Elvis and Me

Hot Dog Shop picture at Portland International Airport

Elvis was born in January, 1935. So was I. Yesterday was his birthday. Mine is later in the month. He graduated from high school in 1953. So did I. That's about where any similarities between us end. Our paths almost crossed on Labor Day Weekend in Tacoma, Washington. Sunday, September 1, 1957, Elvis did a matinee performance at Lincoln Bowl. He went on to play an evening performance in Seattle. There's a story on the History Link with the details of the Seattle Concert. I imagine the Tacoma Concert went along the same lines. A gal I was dating at the time wanted to go see Elvis who was playing at Lincoln Bowl, next to the highschool. I drove her to the concert. But I didn't go. Could have, I'm sure. And if I knew then what I know now, would have. We may both have been in Tacoma that day, but we were worlds apart.

Early death has forever frozen the images I see of Elvis. There he is as a young man on the American Movie Channel in the army, in Hawaii, at a carnival and alike. When I look into the mirror, I see an older version of what I once was.

He was and still is The King. I'm just me. But being me has its advantages. I'm writing this blog today. And he is not. If you happened to see him in person in 1957, why not share a few lines?