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hanging with Elvis in Tupelo…

May 5, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 6 Comments

hanging with Elvis

Oh, you know, I’m just hanging with Elvis as one does, especially when one visits Tupelo. Quick story: I was invited to the Alabama Book Festival and immediately said YES not only because—Book Festival!—but also because to get there from here, I would drive smack through Tupelo and into the depths of Mississippi Blues land.

Tupelo is Elvis’s birthplace. He lived there until his family moved to Memphis when he was thirteen.

Graceland is Elvis’s deathplace. And what a contrast between the two.

I’ve experienced Graceland many, many times. When you grow up in the 1970s just across the river from Memphis, Graceland drivebys are a normal thing—just to look at the iron gate, to see the trees in front of the house, to see Elvis’s gardener outside, that sort of thing. Elvis was ours because of the nearness of him, and news of his death tore up our little town.

I toured Graceland BK and AK, which for non-Memphis people means before the kitchen was open to the public and after the kitchen became part of the tour. Graceland is most certainly worth a visit, but, not to brag, having grown up just down the interstate in the Bat Cave which boasts its own jungle room, major earthquake fault line, and scars from a real live state trooper shootout spanning three states and culminating in your own carport, well, it takes a lot to impress me.

Really, I’m more impressed by not a lot.Continue Reading

my Deep South Road Trip

April 25, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 9 Comments

Deep South Road TripI just spent three days on a perfect deep south road trip soaking up the things that inspire me most. It was a whirlwind tour filled with music and literature and history and a heavy dose of natural beauty. And good food, too.

My perfect road trip centered around the Alabama Book Festival and while selling books and connecting with others authors and soaking up words was my primary goal, my two other must-see stops were Elvis’s birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi and the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.

Judge me if you must.Continue Reading

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…

 

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Talya Tate Boerner


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

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

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

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

Click to BUY NOW!

Talya Tate Boerner books
Gene, Everywhere

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