 Elvis
Presley had it all and blew it on drugs. He was just a fat, dumb junkie,
white trash, at the most. He stole all he was from black folks. Why care
about Elvis, he blew it, he's
Dead?
Not
since he overdosed on drugs and dropped over dead on the bathroom floor
had I given Elvis Presley another thought. I was harsh.
Up until
then I had been to seven Elvis concerts live at Chicago Stadium and had
adored him. When he died I had already made plans for his next tour, which
would have had him in Chicago, October 1977? I was a member of the “Welcome
to Elvis World Fan Club” and was sure it was just a matter of time
before I could drive down to Tennessee and see Graceland. Elvis Presley
brought joy and excitement into my life. I was proud to be a fan of a good
wholesome man. Then I read the book “Elvis What Happened” by Red and Sonny
West and was dismayed. It was all a lie. This is how I felt until I realized
I ought to be a little more careful and judge others, even Elvis Presley,
the way I pray God will one day judge me.
I
didn't listen to, nor did I entertain a second thought about Elvis Presley
until the winter of 1992. They had made the first US postage stamp with
the “young” Elvis and I not have cared less. Then I had the most unique
dream. I saw a pair of blue eyes looking into my eyes, no face, just
the black of night, and these incredible blues eyes. I was transfixed,
locked in sleep yet fully aware of these heart wrenching yes. They lowered
and I felt warmth brush against my ear, then these words were whispered"Make
it right!" I warmth nuzzle my ear. Then the eyes returned and locked
with mine. Total blackness surrounded them until I saw the smile. A beautiful
smile. All I could see was those mesmerizing eyes and this new radiant
smile and then I heard myself tell myself "My God that was Elvis Presley!"
Then he was gone, poof, just like that.
The
next day I went up to the attic and retrieved a book I had bought years
back about Elvis, it was called "Gladys and Elvis" by Elaine Dundy. I had
gone through my own nightmare recently and had been placed on permanent
disability in part because of a degenerative bowel disorder. I endured
merciless pain, countless invasive tests, many hundreds of needles, as
many x-rays and at least dozen total bowel obstructions. I have spent much
of my precious life in hospitals being tested on and recovering. As we
get older we don't bounce back the way we do when we are young. At the
time of my first serious bowel trouble it was 1970 and I was 19. In 1991
I turned 39. I am currently 47. It is because of my medical history
that I found a common bond with Elvis. I need a distraction right now in
my life. I'm objective, detached, yet can empathize, so I choose to canvass
exactly why, Elvis Presley up and died.
There
are two sides to every story, and then there is the truth. The information
I have gathered is sad but true. Just like anyone else, Elvis deserves
fair trial.
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