Graceland

I have to admit that I have always been "star-struck."  If I visit a place connected to a famous person, I always say to Gary..."I can't believe I am actually standing where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address" or "I am really singing 'Hey Jude' with Paul McCartney in Bankers Life!"  A pre-conceived picture of a famous place also lives in my head, which often leads to a sharp reality check when I visit that place.

Such was the reality check last night.  When we drove past Graceland yesterday evening, I was shocked that it seemed so small, that it was so close to the public street, and that it seemed to be in a neighborhood.  Where were the big entrance gates with guards, the expansive lawns, and the isolation that I expected for The King?

Fast forward to after our visit to Graceland today.  While neither of us were big Elvis fans (we were of the Beatles era), we were both captivated by Graceland and the story of Elvis, his parents, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie.  Using the iPads and headphones gave us the flexibility to move through the house and grounds at our own pace, to stop and look more closely at areas of special interest, and to check for other pictures that were available of nooks and crannies closed to visitors.

My favorites?

• The chandeliers - oh my! So gorgeous!
• The pool room with the fabric walls and ceiling.  I didn't  catch how many yards of fabric were used, but it had to be hundreds.

• Seeing the old window air conditioning units on the outside of the jungle room and then seeing a film clip of Elvis and Priscilla playing around in the yard and seeing those same AC units in the background 

• The dining room - and it is still used by the family at special times of the year

• The pool - not massive or spectacular, just a typical pool of the 60s or 70s

• The memorial gardens with the graves of Elvis, his grandmother, and his folks, along with an eternal flame and a stone to remember his stillborn twin brother

• The background music - all Elvis
• The memorabilia, especially the vehicles and the clothing.  The jeweled jumpsuits were spectacular!

We arrived before 9 a.m., stood in line, and we transported from the service center to the grounds in one of the first few buses.  We finally left the area after a late lunch five hours later. 

Even though the tickets are a little high, the tour is well worth the money spent.  Walking around Graceland, walking into the Lisa Marie (his plane), listening to the music, and hearing his story made for a fantastic first day in Memphis.

Elvis didn't leave the building.  His spirit still lives on at Graceland.