Happy Elvis

Unfinished Business

2009-07-09T12:27:00.002-05:00

It's odd that I seem to spew emotion at some times and clam up at others. My grandmother, my last living grandparent, died last month. I wrote a note to close friends and family. I'm finally ready to share it here.

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Dad's mom passed away Saturday morning. Clinton and I were at Carl and Robbi Jo's wedding in St.Simon's and Kingsland. Mom waited (thankfully) until late afternoon to call us so we could enjoy the ceremony and reception. Mimi had been sick for several years and ultimately died of heart failure.

Mimi was terribly fun yet also a neat freak. Her husband died of a heart attack in 1966, before I was born. Mom taught her how to drive in her '66 forest green Mustang with a black vinyl top. It had 67K miles on it when she stopped driving. Kati and I always loved to ride in it with her. She'd take us by her work at the nursing home to visit patients and employees. She loved to spoil us and bought us shoes like Olivia Newton John's when "Grease" came out. She'd make us silver dollar pancakes with Golden Eagle syrup. She was a great cook and made really awesome corn; I'm still trying to master her recipe. She taught me how to sew, her favorite hobby. She read "The Star" and watched "General Hospital." She'd let Kati and I play beauty parlor and cover her head in metal curlers, laughing the whole time.

Unfortunately Clinton never got to experience Mimi as her full self. She had a stroke which impaired her mentally, though not physically, before they met. As we've been together 17 years, that tells you how long her decline has been. It's been about 7 years since she could recognize me. I take comfort in knowing that she is finally whole again.

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I love you, Mimi.

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

2009-05-08T13:47:00.002-05:00

This song was trailing through my brain this morning. Lately, I keep running across the theme of lonely versus alone not only in real life but also in fiction and nonfiction books that I'm reading.

I decided today was a perfect day to watch the '68 Comeback. It really is a thing of beauty. And I stand by my observation that Elvis was the first artist to do MTV Unplugged, so far ahead of his time. He really was in so many ways. So real. So fun. And, let's face it, he really was hot. That black leather suit kills.

I'm going to have to pause it again shortly - I've had more interruptions today than I can count. It's nice to be loved and thought of by family and friends; I'm not complaining. At any rate, I need to seize this opportunity to watch and move on to my next project. While some people have problems working with music in the background, I have problems working without it.

So signing out, I ask, "Do you choose to be lonesome, or do you choose to be alone?"

"It's All About Elvis!" May 23rd

2009-05-04T15:12:00.004-05:00

I'm honored to be a guest at 4Bags Elvis Party in Fairhope, AL, on Saturday, May 23, from 1-5 p.m. I'll be signing books, and my sister, Kati Higginbotham, will be there with original Elvis art! (I stole the details from my website.)

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Gulf Coast residents, get ready! 4Bags Boutique is throwing an Elvis Party on Saturday, May 23, from 1-5 p.m. Located at 40 South Section Street in Fairhope, AL, 4Bags is hosting the event featuring:

Elvis artist and designer, Kati Higginbotham
Kati's sister, Kristi Weldon, author of
Health and Happiness Elvis Style
Readings
Autographed books
Ready-to-hang canvas art
Elvis 45 RPM handbags
Peanut Butter and Banana snacks
A drawing for an Elvis 33 RPM album tote
An appearance by The King himself! (actually a really great ETA and friend of the shop)

Click here for flyer and press release. Directions to 4Bags.

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You can RSVP via Facebook. Hope to see you there!

Confessions

2009-03-10T15:35:00.004-05:00

3/10/2009
I haven't been writing on any of my blogs for a while. Months, in fact. The truth is that since late October and I have been either diagnosed or sick with a nice little range of illnesses and injuries.

At first I thought I wouldn't write about what was going on because I didn't want to focus on it. As time went on, I didn't write about it because I just didn't have the energy to write about it. Since I don't see an end to this, I figure I may as well 'fess up and get it over with.

In September and October, I started having all this pain in my left foot. My bones would crunch, and I honestly thought I had a stress fracture. My orthopedic did two different sets of x-rays on two visits to make sure we hadn't missed one. What he did find was this symptom called "Mulder's click" - it's where bones in your foot that aren't supposed to move actually move enough to make this clicking sound you can hear. And since this is a symptom, that begs the question, "What is this clicking a symptom of?"

[see - I'm too tired to finish this now so I'm taking a break to lie down.]

3/28/2009
Ok, so I came down with a 48-hour vertigo-like virus (yay - I only puked once) and am just now getting back to this. Meanwhile, I've been on a last-minute vacation to the Florida Keys. (Clinton was originally going solo, and I'm smart enough not to pass up that invitation.)

Now we're on a planned vacation in Santa Barbara. Clinton surprised me by making this our anniversary vacation. Our anniversary is actually at the end of August, so we often have conflicts and travel issues around Labor Day. This was much more pleasant - and less crowded.

However, continuing with the health junk, I've gone on an anti-inflammatory for my foot (which KILLED me going to, from, and while we were in Islamorada) plus I have developed an ingrown toenail (don't ask me how - I was wearing Birks) that's been oozing puss every couple days. (Yes, I got a pedicure within a few hours which helped immensely, and while it doesn't hurt so much, it was full of puss again last night.) And my foot still hurts off and on with the click/neuroma junk.

I was listening to Louise Hay's "I Can Do It" affirmations this morning. I am going to love my body through all of this. It will feel good again. I just need to remember to accept, support healing, and not be frustrated. I can do that.

Fictitious

2009-01-17T21:34:00.001-06:00

I've been reading some fun fiction lately, and I was trying to remember what kinds of fun fiction Elvis enjoyed. It's easy to remember the nonfiction, and there was so much of it. I seem to be coming up dry. I also feel like I've had my brains sucked dry by the vampire series I've been reading. Not that I'm not enjoying it.

I wonder if Elvis was into vampires or what he thought about them. I mean, was he a Bela Lugosi fan? I don't know.

"New Year New You"

2009-01-13T09:11:00.002-06:00

Really, it's a super-cheesy title. Yet it fits. I have to wonder: what if Elvis knew then what we know now and he had Dr. Oz?

http://www.oprah.com/article/health/wellnessandprevention/pkgyourhealth/20081113_tows_healthchecklist

OK, so that's a really long link. Last Tuesday at Oprah did a great show with Dr. Oz. It was part of her "Best You" or whatever series. Anyway, this is Dr. Oz's 10 Ways To Live Healthier. I've enjoyed it. I haven't exactly started it yet, but I've enjoyed it.

It includes topics as simple as taking a multivitamin and as complex as getting a good night's sleep. I think I'm going to try to use it as my guideline for this year. As I sit here with my coffee and coffee mate, it seems apparent that the coffee mate Trans fats may be the hardest thing to let go of. Good thing I like tea. Maybe I need to hide the coffeemakers.

I hope you'll find this list helpful, and if not that, at least educational. Good luck to all of us for a healthier upcoming year.

Home At Last!

2009-01-12T20:10:00.004-06:00

I've posted this everywhere else, so I might as well post it here:

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As promised (by Big Jim Sykes & me,) the link for Friday's Elvis Quiz Show are up! And they include Cousin Eddie aka Randy Quaid - really nice guy.

Here is a direct link:
http://www.new.facebook.com/photos.php?id=20822416359
Or you can go to www.HappyElvis.com, and there's a link in the left menu.

If you're in a picture, please "tag" yourself so we know who you are. Thanks to everyone for participating! We had a great time (and great weather.)

Building a better planet through Elvisness,
Kristi Weldon
"Official Photographer" of the Friday, 1/9/09, edition of The Elvis Quiz Show ; )

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I feel completely exhausted. I got home at 4:30, fixed dinner at 5:00, ate at 5:45, then "had Christmas" (and Memphis gifts) at 6:15 with my husband. (We had the flu over Christmas this year so just exchanged gifts with my family this weekend.) Now I've downloaded and uploaded 75-ish pics from Thursday in Tupelo and Friday at Graceland. I am pooped and my writing shows it. I think it's time for a hot bath and a good night's sleep.

Sleep tight!

Happy Birthday Elvis!

2009-01-11T10:12:00.003-06:00

Wow, this was such a great trip to Memphis, and I have so much to share!

Mom (Jan Scarbrough) came in second on The Elvis Quiz Show after a tie breaker. We played against the same team (Emily and Friends) that we played TWO YEARS AGO. How crazy is that?!

Randy Quaid aka Cousin Eddie aka Colonel Tom Parker was on the radio with Argo right before that - he was awesome and is every bit as big in person as in the movies (seemed about 6'5".) Very nice guy. Took time for autographs and photos with fans. My sister, Kati, got a picture of me with his beard. (I had a new camera - you can take it from there...)

I was taking lots of pictures on the plaza so Big Jim Sykes named me "Official Photographer." I'll post a link to the photos as soon as I get the pictures up. I'm in B'ham, AL, right now and didn't lug all my computer stuff with me from Atlanta. In hindsight, I should've taken the trouble to carry it all the way to Memphis. It seems like if I bring it, then I don't use it; if I don't bring it, I need it. Murphy's Law, oh well. I'll put out a note to all the groups when the photos are up (which should be by Monday night.)

I bought LOTS of Elvis gear this trip just because they had so much great stuff. Also, they've changed up most of the exhibits at Graceland, so that was really cool. And it was warm so the horses were out for the evening Elvis Insiders event. And I got a killer door prize, some framed Elvis "film cells" - which are apparently snippets of actual film shot of Elvis. (So, so cool. I usually get a CD.) I must rearrange my Elvis wall to give them a place of honor.

Other neat people I met (and forgive me if I leave anyone out - I met too many wonderful people) included award-winning Elvis Entertainer David Allen and traveling producer Rich Carmody. I also met Betty from Toledo (Embroidery & Etc.,) a very talented craftslady who makes custom Elvis jackets (no website.)

Also, I saw The Peabody Ducks for the first time ever. I was as excited as a little kid!

And I met Mr. Lansky - he's got a great sense of humor!

It was really fun to do all this with my mom, sister, and nephew. I'm out of gas writing now. I'm sure I'll write more later.

Be Real

2009-01-07T11:16:00.002-06:00

You know how in some of Elvis's photos where he smiling the picture seems to really capture the best of him? And others just seem flat?

It seems to work that way with everyone. You can almost always tell the candid shots. They capture the emotion. It works that way on the news, too. If you compare dignitaries shaking hands with George Bush dodging that shoe (which was nothing short of impressive), you can see a dramatic difference.

Sitting at my desk today, I became aware of these differences in the Elvis photos that line my wall. I don't know if I can even recall seeing a less than candid photo of him onstage. He always, always let the world see his real self in that environment. He gave us nothing less than the best. Can we do that, too?

Sundays

2009-01-04T18:50:00.001-06:00

Thinking of Elvis and Sundays, my mind immediately goes to gospel. It's such a distinct musical genre. So soulful and holy, without the pretentiousness of many traditional hymns. It can be joyful, gripping, or tearful. Or it can be all three at once.

What we do know is that it moves us. It moved Elvis, and he moved us through it. And that is a thing of beauty.

Why Write This Book?

2009-01-02T14:36:00.005-06:00

From the Introduction to Health and Happiness Elvis Style,

My earliest memories of Elvis are of extremes. I was born May 1, 1971. The first Elvis album I ever owned was On Stage: February 1970, a gift from my cousin Linda. My favorite song was Runaway, and I knew every lyric on the album by heart, even at age five. I remember dancing with my mom, dad, and sister on the reddish-orange shag carpet in our den. Elvis was a family affair, especially for the women, even in our extended family.

I recall with awe the release of the Moody Blue album and the vibrant translucence of the cobalt vinyl. I can even now relive the fun of trying to imitate J. D. Sumner’s bass vocals on Way Down. I also still see the album being gently pulled from my young, careful fingers – that were only touching the edges - for their fear of my scratching it.

When Elvis died on August 16, 1977, my sister and I were sent outside to play while our mother sat inside sobbing, slumped over beside the radio for hours or perhaps days. I was six and consoled myself in the driveway crying and singing Runaway and Sweet Caroline. Mom then told us that the next time Elvis was coming to Birmingham, she had planned to take us. Some part of me is still grieving that loss.

At age 35, I had just returned from my first Elvis Week and my first tour of Graceland. I had always been a music-lover (I’m told I knew Merle Haggard and his lyrics at age three) so to say the experience was overwhelming is a bit of an understatement: like so many, it quite literally changed my life.

I found myself in tears just taking in the enormity of it all. And it was while sitting in the Elvis Insiders Conference listening to the speakers that I started writing. I had already been taking notes on the presentations – I mean really writing: about what we can all learn from Elvis.
He was a willing and unwilling pioneer. He was a leader and a regular guy. He was a cut-up and a gentleman. And he was blessed with gifts that when shared, put him in a position that no ordinary person would be equipped to deal with. Elvis was only human and was held up by others like a god. Like any of us, he did the best he could with what he had.

So what can we learn from Elvis’ life so we can all grow as people? Well, I believe that Elvis would want us to look, learn, and move on to become the best individuals we can be. I can only hope that I have accurately interpreted the spirit of Elvis and that applying the knowledge in the book to your life makes you a better person. I know for a fact he believed in making the world a better place. I hope this makes him proud.

Copyright 2007 Kristi S. Weldon All rights reserved.