We’re coming up on a very special anniversary, my friends. That’s right, the death of Elvis Presley. August 16, 1977, a date burned into my memory. That’s when the King relocated to heaven, taking all his talent and charisma with him. Forty-two years later, you know what? I
still miss him. What a sexy man! Fat or thin, I don’t care, there was something about Elvis.
When I think of him, though, I mostly think of the young Elvis. That first time on Ed Sullivan, oh mister man! We’d never seen anything like him. Even though they only showed him from the waist up, which made it even more tantalizing. Us girls were all a-flutter the next day at school. Could hardly concentrate on our studies, thinking about Elvis and all the stuff we didn’t get to see on Ed Sullivan.
When we got married, Charlie and my first dance as husband and wife was to “All Shook Up,” and we were. Charlie looked so handsome in his white tux, both of us young and full of dreams. That’s what I think of whenever I hear that song.
My favorite Elvis concert is probably the 1968 Comeback Special. You know, the one where he’s dressed entirely in black with a leather jacket. He’s playing the guitar, all intimate. And that smile? Wow!
Elvis provided the soundtrack to the early years of our life together, and we were almost with him at the end, too. See, Charlie and me had tickets to see Elvis in Portland. That’s the concert that never happened; the one scheduled for the day after he died. Boy, oh boy, was I ever devastated.
But you move on, right? And the music and memories will always be there.
Every year, me and the Women Who Run with the Moose celebrate the life of Elvis on the anniversary of his passing. This August 16th, we’re doing a two-part event. We’re starting with breakfast down to the Busy Bee. In honor of the big day, Babe is adding a special item to the menu: The Fat Elvis. She did it last year, and it’s not to be missed. Are you ready? French toast, stuffed with crunchy peanut butter and caramelized banana, topped with candied bacon and a drizzle of Nutella. Oh-my-God! Word of caution: wear your elastic waist pants!
That night we’re getting together at Celeste’s and watching “Blue Hawaii.” The plot’s nothing to write home about, but it’s the young Elvis, so the hunk factor is high. Plus, we get to have food and drink on a tropical theme. I’m making a pineapple upside down cake (haven’t made that in a dog’s age) and Dottie’s been working on her Pina Colada recipe.
And we’ll play Elvis tunes, of course, and sing along. It seems like every song reminds us of another time, a place, or a story. Man, that fella starts singing, and once again we’re young and full of dreams.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: For Elvis, With Love
Coming Up
August 22: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
August 24: The Best of Ida, Celebration Barn Theatre, 7:30pm, South Paris, ME
August 29: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
This Fall
September 25: A Visit With Ida, South Berwick Senior Center, 11:00am, South Berwick, ME
October 17: The Moose in Me, The Moose in You!, National Hospice Volunteer Conference, 8:00pm, Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland, ME
November 3: Cold River Radio Show Live featured storyteller, 7:00pm, Theatre in the Wood, Intervale, NH
Check out my full schedule here.
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