THE NIGHT I MET ELVIS Part 2

It was cool that night.  The blue and green lights casted a glow on the mansion.  We walked to the steps of the front door.

“Why are we here?  Who lives here? “Together Judi and I asked simultaneously.

At that very moment, the door opened and a very large, heavy-set man came out to greet us.

“Good evening, ladies, he said glancing at both Judi and I.  “My name is Lamar. Welcome to Graceland,”

“Hi Lamar.  These are the girls from Miami Beach I told you about. This is Judy and this is Joni”, Alan said.

I was in a fog.  I didn’t know that Elvis lived at a place called Graceland; neither did Judi.  At that moment Elvis walked to the door behind Lamar.  He was wearing a tennis sweater, and a pair of white jeans or duck pants.  Judi suddenly recognized him.  I was still in the fog.  In a second after Judi realized it was Elvis, she grabbed my hand and dug her finger into my knuckles puncturing the skin between them on my right hand.  A scar still exits. She stopped breathing, tried to tell me, but her state of shock locked her vocal cords.  She looked at me with her mouth wide open and tried desperately to get the words out.

Panting and breathless, gasping for words, she said in a whisper that was hardly audible, “It’s, it’s, oh my God, it’s Elvis, digging her nail between my knuckle.  I stood still like a pillar of salt, in total disbelief.  He looked at us, smiled and invited us in to his home.  I was speechless for the first time in my life.

Upon entering Graceland, I was immediately struck by the size of the main entrance.  It was huge in my frame of reference and the furnishings were like a movie setting.  As I recall, I tried to think of a word that could describe what I saw.  I didn’t know that word yet in my vocabulary, but in retrospect, it was somewhat garish and ostentatious, however it didn’t matter. I was in awe and the furnishings were the last thing I thought about.  I think there was a sunken living room off to the right.  I can’t be sure now as I am writing and recalling my experience.  Afterall, it’s been 65 years ago.  He introduced us to a few friends who gathered in the living room. They all stood up as we entered the living room.

“Say hello to a few of my friends.  This here is Cliff, Cliffe Cleaves, pointing his arm in his direction.  I don’t know how I remembered his name when I can’t even recall what I had for breakfast today, He continued to introduce others, but my mind went blank after the first introduction so I can’t recall the names of his other guests.  He welcomed Alan and George, then invited me to take a tour of his home.  I can’t recall what happened to Judi after that.  Elvis escorted me into the kitchen.  His parents were there and he introduced me to them.  I was startled at all the stuffed teddy bears that sat along the kitchen counter.  I tried hard to understand why the teddy bears were featured in the kitchen and then I remembered a song that he made famous; Won’t You Be My Teddy Bear.  I think it might have even been a gold record.

The tour took us into his master bedroom.  I was startled when I saw his bed.  It was the largest bed I had ever seen.  Although it might have been a king size bed, I had always slept in a twin size in my home, while my parents slept in the living room on a Castro convertible not larger than a double bed size.  His bed was covered with a royal blue spread with the initials, EP in white. I think they may have been in script.

His master bathroom had a white rug around the commode.  I noticed a large stain on it.  We continued onto his two large closets; one that he addressed as his show closet that housed his performing outfits.  His gold lame’ suit was hard to miss. The other was allocated for everyday wear.  He appeared proud of his home and made no advances towards me. He was a perfect gentleman.  Each room had a crucifix with Jesus.  He reminded me a gentle country boy without an ego, humble and gracious.  My memory has faded some since then, but I recall going down to his basement that had two rooms.  One was a game room with a billiards table and a dart board; the other was where his gold records were displayed along the sofit all across the room.  In 1957 stereo had not yet been invented. There was a large high-fidelity system installed against the wall.  A cocktail table that was in the shape of a guitar sat between a sofa and some club chairs.  There was an absence of any alcohol, however an ice cream bar stood in front of another wall.

I sat on one of the club chairs.  All his guests were present along with Judi and I.  Elvis put on a few of his gold records and I thought I had died and went to heaven.  Suddenly, he stooped down on the floor next to me and began to sing one of his recordings, Till.  He moved close to me, serenading me softly, then to my surprise put his tongue in my ear between the notes.  I think I had my first orgasm without having sex and still a virgin!  I tried to act calm and cool, but inside I was riveting, disbelieving this could be happening. I made a mental recording in all my five senses.  I never wanted to forget this moment.  Here I was, just 18 years old, sitting in Elvis Presley’s basement, being serenaded by the king of rock n roll.  Me! Joni Gilbert from first and Jefferson Avenue, had just been caressed by Elvis’ tongue in my ear. How did this happen?  I was in awe, unable to speak, unable to think, just immobile and barely breathing.  Life is full of conundrums, but this was the biggest conundrum I had ever encountered and I didn’t even know the meaning of the word at that time.

To be continued!  Next blog! Stay tuned!

Joan E. Childs, LCSW