It seems like there is nothing but bad news everywhere you look these days. People are fighting about where Mosques can be built and mothers are killing their babies because the voices told her to do so. As my facebook friends say...WTF? Honestly, I'd like to adopt my usual "stick my head in the sand approach" to everything, call it a day, and start over next week. So what's a person to do? I know...let's talk about Elvis.
I was amused to see so many people make the pilgrimage to Graceland to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Elvis dying on the toilet this week. The funny thing is...Elvis is still alive. I know this to be true because I've seen him.
The first of our encounters was at a Burger King in Dundalk, Maryland, back in 1986. We bumped into each other as we were emptying our trays into the trash. I kind of looked at him and hesitated while he emptied his 4 cheeseburger wrappers and 2 large fry containers into the trash. He briefly stopped and thanked me for letting him go first with a "Thank you...thank you very much."
The second chance meeting was on a family vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia in 1989. We were in the historical part of Williamsburg and my daughter and I were sitting on a bench eating ice cream while the King walked by. He was eating a triple scoop pistachio ice cream cone and humming "It's Now or Never" as he walked down the street.
The third time we actually caught him on camera. I was getting my BJ's Wholesale Club Membership photo taken in York, Pennsylvania in the late 90's and clearly in the background of the photo you can see Elvis standing in line to get a soft pretzel and a soda.
The last happenstance was at a greasy spoon just outside of Washington, DC, in the summer of 2000. I had stopped to use the rest room and get a drink...as I exited the restroom I heard the rather large lady behind the counter say, "Can you believe that Whitey wanted a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich?" I quickly looked at the door to see the back of what was surely Elvis' head leaving the diner.
Well....now you know...the rest of the story. God, I feel better about the world now.
Be Well.
Bill
