Have you visited Memphis? I never had until last year, and its mood moved me to the core.
On a cool, bright early morning in April of last year, we drove to 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard for a tour of Graceland. I expected to admire the retro decor preferred by Elvis, listen to the music, and pay my respects to the King of Rock and Roll.
I did that, but also realized the house is all about family. Elvis bought Graceland for his parents, lived there with his wife and daughter, welcomed friends, composed, jammed, ate, drank, under that roof. This Colonial Revival mansion is where he retired to after long tours, and where he rests today. It is his past and present.
“The house was smaller than we thought and not impressive,” said our neighbors at the RV park. I can agree, but who goes there to see the house? I never thought of Graceland as a tour of architecture and design. It’s funky, it’s cool, and its decor is quite original. But most importantly, it is where Elvis lived!
Graceland is so closely associated with Elvis that it’s hard to think of life there without him, but the property dates back to the late 1800s! The mansion, built by a descendant of the original owner in 1939, was home to Elvis for twenty years. Elvis adapted Graceland, along with its 13.8 acres, which include a barn, to suit his needs. It is 17,552 square feet of pure creativity. “Graceland is a living, breathing home,” Priscilla Presley said in 2016.
I don’t know what the future holds for Graceland. I hope the younger generations appreciate his breakthrough music and Elvis’s struggles and determination. Tours are not just about Graceland, but an entertainment complex featuring exhibitions, his private jet, his classic car collection, and memorabilia, along with souvenir shops. One needs a whole day to enjoy and take it all in. Listening to the tour guide, all I felt was love for the man and his legacy. In the background, his voice, serenading guests, speaks to you. There was a magical aura, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to visit.
Have you been there? If so, what was your experience? Maybe you were also there for the building and were disappointed? If you haven’t been, I highly recommend a visit, as it is truly a representation of American pop culture.
Another notable figure was Martin Luther King. (1929-1968) The Lorraine Motel on Mulberry Street was closed the day we visited. We could only see the plaque and site from the outside. I hope to see the exhibits about the Civil Rights Movement and the hotel room as it was left at another time, hopefully soon.
King was shot on the balcony of room 306 on April 4, 1968. He was born on the same day as my father, I noticed on the plaque, and it brought tears to my eyes. King was a man who preached love and respect. Even when isolated, I could feel the love and the sadness at this site. It was quiet, with only the distant sound of traffic and my husband and me paying our respects. MLK had a dream, a beautiful dream of justice and brotherly love. Have we lost it? That was my only thought as we walked back to the Jeep.
Memphis has another king to brag about, Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King. (1925-2015) There is no better place than Memphis to sing the blues. These men’s souls never left. I had the opportunity to attend a B.B. King concert some years ago here at home in the Rio Grande Valley. His guitar sound was pure magic, and when U2 invited him to sing a duet with them on the song “When Love Comes to Town,” I was hooked forever. That song was written explicitly for B.B. King by U2. The song was featured on the 1988 album “Rattle and Hum”, which also included a brief excerpt of Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the Woodstock Festival, as well as other notable hits by U2.
U2 actually went to town in Memphis to record three songs for this album, with B.B. King at Sun Studios. The two other songs are “Angel of Harlem” and “Love Rescue Me.” Sun Studios are another Memphis gem that I will never forget, but that is for another story. Isn’t Memphis amazing? I think so.
We can listen and watch Elvis sing, swivel, and thrust, be inspired by Martin Luther King’s words, and be moved by the guitar sounds of B.B. King, but they are all gone.
I pondered my own life and what I am leaving behind for others to see and be inspired. These men dreamed, failed, but kept going. The force of inspiration’s voice they never quieted. They had a lot of love to give.
My husband enjoyed it all calmly. No highs and lows, no tears, and no emotions. Everything is good and OK with him. Such is life, his attitude.
We were both impressed by the 100-foot-tall cypress trees inside the 535,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, by the Mississippi River. It is a sight to behold. However, it was not until my husband read a sign for a casino in West Memphis that his excitement was evident. He immediately detoured, his tires screeching as he turned fast toward the destination as quickly as possible.
The Southland Casino and Hotel proved to be the perfect stop to call it a day. A bad storm was approaching, so we booked a night’s stay, for it was my husband’s turn to rock n’ roll.
King of the road!
If I were to recommend a hotel in Memphis within walking distance of Beale Street, it would be The Peabody, dating back to 1869, because I have a fondness for historical hotels. Also, because the five resident Mallard ducks are well worth a visit, even if you don’t stay there. We were traveling in the RV, so no hotels to report on this time.
Cactus in the Mirror by Nydia O. Studio 