grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

  • Home
  • About
  • Media
  • Crafts
  • Farm
  • Food
  • Garden
  • Reading & Books
  • Sunday Letter
  • SHOP!
  • Privacy Policy

E is for Elvis! Elvis! Elvis!

April 5, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner 37 Comments

Elvis's Graceland

I grew up just across the river from Memphis, a magical city with Goldsmith’s for back-to-school shopping, Libertyland for roller coaster riding, Mid-South Fair for corn dog eating, and Graceland for possible Elvis-sightings.

Elvis's Graceland

 

The King was sometimes spotted at the hallowed gates outside Graceland chatting with rabid fans and handing out diamond rings like sticks of Juicy Fruit. Elvis sightings always made the front page of The Commercial Appeal. 
When Elvis was sick, which was often, the Baptist Memorial Hospital became his hotel.  This too made the news which prompted a family road trip across the river to keep watch over Elvis. Momma circled the hospital around and around and around, as Nana, my sister and I strained our necks to see his window.

We prayed not for Elvis’ health, but to see him stroll across the parklike grounds. Elvis’ room was easy to spot. He was always on the top floor and his windows were completely covered with aluminum foil.  

The mere sight of his aluminum foil-covered window was thrilling.
A Memphis cop directed traffic on the street. We were not the only crazy fans.
Graceland
talya

Grace Grits and Gardening

Musical Pairing:

Paul Simon, Graceland

“Before Elvis there was nothing.” 
― John Lennon

p.s. According to the newspaper, the aluminum foil was to keep out sunlight. We know it was to keep fans (us) from scaling the building and peeping inside…

 

Filed Under: Family, Memories Tagged With: A to Z April Blog Challenge, BAT, Elvis, humor, Memphis, Nana

Wanna receive my monthly Newsletter? Sign up here!

Comments

  1. Megan says

    April 5, 2013 at 5:13 am

    Cool! My sister in law is a big Elvis fan and would love this story. His music is fabulous.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:45 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Julie Jordan Scott says

    April 5, 2013 at 5:48 am

    This is an awesome post! I’m so glad I visited today.

    The home where Marilyn Monroe died is private and the people have now built a visual mote around their house. Several years ago you could pull up and look into the yard through the gate, but I imagine people in the thousands drive by each year. There was another car there when we were there both times!

    I need to go to Memphis one day…..

    Happy A to Z-ing!
    Julie Jordan Scott
    Our Literary Grannies from A to Z:E is for Ellen Emerson
    tweet me – @juliejordanscot

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:45 am

      You definitely need to make a road trip:)

      Reply
  3. Kathy says

    April 5, 2013 at 6:39 am

    Awesome post!! I have never been to Memphis, but my mom was a big Elvis fan and I grew up listening to his music being played at full blast!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Based on your blogs, I think you would love Graceland:))

      Reply
  4. Amy Morgan says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:05 am

    I’m not a huge Elvis fan, but loved reading your post about him and those aluminum foil covered windows are a hoot!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:44 am

      yes the windows were hilarious.

      Reply
  5. Mike Miller says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:05 am

    This post is a bit vague. Now, this is about Elvis who?

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:42 am

      ha.

      Reply
  6. Sarah Holmes says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:11 am

    Aw – I love that your love of Elvis was a family affair! :0)

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:44 am

      :))

      Reply
  7. ~Brandy~ says

    April 5, 2013 at 8:04 am

    Thanks for stopping by my D is for Downton Abbey post! You’ll be hooked when you start watching and very quickly purchase Seasons 2 and 3, I guarantee it.
    I think my favourite part of this Elvis post is your admission of being a family of stalkers (in a harmless way, of course)! O, the things we do for a glimpse of the rich and famous 🙂
    Cheers from Brandy at brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:44 am

      Can’t wait to get started!

      Reply
  8. Corinne Rodrigues says

    April 5, 2013 at 8:28 am

    Growing up in India, I heard and watched Elvis and saw just how popular he was here. I can imagine the madness when you lived so close.
    Did I tell you I love your musical pairings? Paul Simon is a favorite!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:43 am

      Thanks Corinne! Yes, living so close, he was like family:)

      Reply
  9. Barbara White Daille says

    April 5, 2013 at 8:38 am

    Hi, Talya – love your name and your blog! What a great post. It’s the first time I’ve seen Elvis today.

    Though I’m not a coffee drinker, I also loved your Alcott quote from C day. Great job with the A to Z!

    And… 🙂 @Sarah Holmes & LOL @Mike Miller

    Barbara
    E is for Evidence Found in A to Z
    The Daille-y News

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:44 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Paula Martin says

    April 5, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    Great story Did you never get to actually see him then?

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      No! I remember exactly what I was doing when we heard he died. Our entire town was in mourning. Many had tickets to his upcoming Memphis concert…

      Reply
  11. Mary Purpari says

    April 5, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Wow! The closest I can come to that was going to school with Buddy Ebsen’s daughter and living in the same small city as John Wayne. A very fun article. 😀

    Reply
  12. Writercat59 says

    April 5, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    Fascinating story about growing up near Elvis land. Can’t get much closer to a great legend than that.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2013 at 3:18 am

      We own the land next to Johnny Cash’s home place. Another story…

      Reply
  13. humor after 50 says

    April 5, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    I enjoyed this so much…I have nominated YOU for the Liebster Award! Remember, no tag backs. Go to my site (http://viewsofanoptimist.blogspot.com/) to review the eleven questions for you to answer.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 6:01 pm

      Wow thank you! T.

      Reply
  14. J.L. Campbell says

    April 5, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    I was wondering about the foil paper, but got an answer. I also think it was to keep eyes out. 🙂 Love the flowers at the top of your blog. So pretty.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2013 at 3:18 am

      Thank you:)

      Reply
  15. Joyce Lansky says

    April 5, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    My husband grew up in Memphis. He used to always see Elvis playing basketball late at night at the Memphis Jewish Community Center. In fact, he saw him so much it became no big deal. My father-in-law taught Elvis how to tie a tie, and Uncle Bernard was the famous clothier of the king. When Elvis died, my husband was invited to ride in the limo but couldn’t get home from college.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 5, 2013 at 5:59 pm

      Omg I KNEW you would have a good Elvis story since we are from the same neck of the woods! So cool!!

      Reply
  16. beachlover says

    April 5, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Cool story! My aunt was madly in love with Elvis. I was sure there was no greater fan than she. Her heart belonged to him. And when he died, she mourned. Oh, the tears…

    Nice post, Talya!

    Reply
  17. Jenn says

    April 5, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    I never saw Elvis–except those wanna bees!!

    Cool story to share with us! And great memories to cherish!

    Cheers, Jenn

    Reply
  18. Suzy says

    April 5, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    Thanks for sharing a fun story. How exciting to live there. I wasn’t a huge Elvis fan but I did enjoy some of his songs.

    Reply
  19. Sarah says

    April 7, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    My Mom took my siblings and I to see Graceland when we were kids. I remember it, but I was too young to really appreciate it. I’d love to go back now! And my husband is a HUGE fan. We should go!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 8, 2013 at 4:03 am

      You should definitely go back. The kitchen is open now!

      Reply
  20. porkchoptuesday says

    April 8, 2013 at 5:42 am

    Made me smile~as usual!

    Reply
  21. Tim Hardin says

    April 11, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    If you ask me, E is for Entelligence…with a capital “E”!!!…haha…that’s right! Seriously, though, I don’t think Elvis’ legend will die any time in the near future. He was one of a kind!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. a look inside: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home - grace grits and gardening says:
    April 28, 2014 at 9:11 am

    […] Administration Building, which by the way strikes an uncanny resemblance to Elvis’ Graceland, has been beautifully transformed into a first-class museum detailing the settling of Dyess Colony […]

    Reply

COMMENT: Cancel reply

Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Baylor graduate. Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Oct '22)

Click to BUY NOW!

Buy Now
Gene, Everywhere

Never miss a blog post! Subscribe via email:

Receive my not-very-regular Newsletter?

Most Popular Posts…

  • Sunday Letter: 08.14.22
  • How to harvest Coneflower Seeds
  • Homepage
  • Yum Yum Cake - old southern recipe!
  • Sunday Letter: 07.31.22

Most Recent

  • Sunday Letter: 08.14.22
  • Sunday Letter: 07.31.22
  • Book Reviews: July 2022
  • Sunday Letter: 07.24.22
  • Sunday Letter: 07.17.22

Grace Grits index

Prior Posts

Search Categories

Tags

A to Z April Blog Challenge Autumn BAT Book Reviews childhood Christmas creative writing prompt Dallas Desserts Eureka Springs Fall Fayetteville Food Gracie Lee Halloween Hemingway-Pfeiffer home humor Johnson Family Keiser Lake Norfork Lucy and Annabelle Mississippi County Mississippi Delta moving Munger Place Nana nature Northeast Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Osceola poem Reading Schnauzer simple living simple things spring spring gardening Summer sunday letter Talya Tate Boerner novel The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee Thomas Tate Winter Wordless Wednesday
Follow on Bloglovin

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!

All content and photos Copyright Grace, Grits and Gardening © 2022 · Web Hosting By StrataByte

This is a demo store for testing purposes — no orders shall be fulfilled. Dismiss