Today I have baked blueberry muffins, taken the puppies for a long walk, snapped tons of photos (and learned a little more about my camera), made a huge dent in the laundry, grocery-shopped, answered several emails and even fit in an hour-long work-out ... so why do I feel I haven't accomplished anything? It's like I've just been spinning my wheels, just taking care of the same old, same old, barely keeping my head above the water. (Okay, no more cliches. You get the idea.)
Maybe I feel that way because, although the tree is down and put away, the rest of the house is still celebrating Christmas. Stuck in December.
No wonder I feel like I haven't made any progress - I haven't!
So instead of writing the post I had planned to about Tom's surgery adventures, I'm going to re-post this one I wrote last year about Elvis because today is his birthday ...and because these decorations are starting to get on my nerves.
Hope you've had a productive Saturday! Or a relaxing one! Or a fun one! Okay, I hope your Saturday is exactly the one you wished for...
Happy birthday, Elvis!
Elvis was my first crush.
There. I said it.
I hesitate to broadcast it because I'm not an Elvis groupie. I've never been to Graceland and I don't have his birthday marked on my calendar...in fact, I didn't even realize he would have celebrated his 75th birthday this past week until CBS Sunday Morning featured some early Elvis photographs by Alfred Wertheimer.
Just a glance at those photographs...the dark hair, full, passionate lips and soulful eyes...(sigh...!) and I was back in the Pasadena Capitan Theater, walking down the aisle to my seat as Elvis sang the intro to "Viva Las Vegas"...staring up at him, falling in love with him and the song.
I was 5 years old.
Five or six years later, in 1970, he performed at the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show. By sheer luck, Daddy and I scored free tickets - we were walking around the Livestock Show and someone gave us theirs...I can't remember the exact details or circumstances, but those tickets enabled me to share a moment in history with Elvis himself. Granted, we were only a few rows shy of the very top of the Astrodome - Elvis was a little doll dancing and singing far below us - but I was there! I remember seeing him...and I also remember the teenage girls squealing all around us.
I didn't feel compelled to squeal, despite my earlier crush. Maybe I was too young. Maybe I'm just not a squealer. But I think it's because Elvis wasn't Elvis to me anymore...he was already into his white jumpsuit days. His face was a little puffy and he had those sideburns...
I still loved some of his music, but he just wasn't...cool. Let's face it - he was middle-aged! No longer crush-material. I had moved on to Bobby Sherman.
I still loved some of his music, but in the Astrodome...especially near the very top...hell, all we could hear were those squealing girls!
Still, I was there! I shared that space, that bit of time with Elvis, and a wonderful memory with Daddy...but when I think of Elvis, it's not that Elvis...Elvis of the long sideburns and white jumpsuit. It's young, fun Elvis in "It Happened at the World's Fair", "Fun in Acapulco", and "Kissin' Cousins" (featuring Elvis in a blonde wig!)...it's Elvis making me want to dance, singing "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", and "Teddy Bear"...it's my passionate, sexy Elvis singing "Viva Las Vegas"...
Happy Birthday, Elvis...Let's dance!
