i'm gonna have a blue christmas without you

As you very well know or maybe you don't, December 22nd is a day of infamy in our house. Well, there are many days of infamy floating around here but this is the one we are most hardily trying to avoid. In an effort to be total runners, we are going to celebrate/cry in our cocktails during this time while traveling out of town.

We argued, fought and finally compromised on a destination. Memphis, Tennessee. Don't ask why this place was chosen but be rest assured one of the only bright reasons we are going here is a) to see a family member and b) to visit Graceland. Surely you think Elvis and Christmas go hand-in-hand, right? RIGHT?!?!? Besides, I sure would love to add another velvet Elvis to my collection. Shut it! if you think they are tacky. Because they are and I love him/them.

Actually, the girls are quite excited as they have grown to love Elvis and think he's "handsome." The skinny Elvis that is as I can't bring myself to show them the bloated, old Elvis we all know and remember. I'll let them live in their little bubbles a little longer.

Speaking of dead, bloated people, do you know where you were when Elvis died? Were most of you even born then? I remember sitting at my babysitter's house, shoving a found copper penny between the gap of my two top front teeth. The huge gap was THAT HUGE! and seriously, how did I manage to procure this stolen penny and why was I playing with it without notice on her part? I guess this was the days before baby proofing since I was always getting into make-up, tampons, bras and markers during said "nap-time."

My babysitter came into the living room, crying that some dude named "Elvis" had died and her world was going to end as we knew it. In the many years I did time with her, I think this was the only time I ever saw her cry. Maybe one other time, when I left her residence for good. I wasn't sure the tears were of happiness or sadness. Based on the trouble I gave her, I would assume the former. Anyway, she startled me so much with her "active emotion" that the penny slipped out of my hand and down my throat. I felt it scrape every rung of my esophagus while I swallowed what seemed 100 times to make sure it would move quickly along.

I didn't tell anyone I swallowed the damn thing for at least 15 years later especially my mother as she freaked the hell out when she did find out.

So, how's that for a memory? and what does the memory have to do with Christmas and lost anniversaries? I'm not sure. I think this is one of the few times I can not tie up the end of a long string of thoughts with a shiny little bow. Mainly because this holiday season deserves only brown paper bags and used tissue boxes as holiday wrap.

Comments

[Jessica M]

I swallowed a penny a few times when I was in high school. See, someone told me that when sucked on the copper in pennies would bring a breathalyser down. Seeing as that I was under age being at outdoor festivals with alcohol in your system was a no no so I spent one night that I was out sucking on pennies. The major problem with this was since I was drunk I kept swallowing them. I think I swallowed three before I decided I should stop sucking on them.
SO I know the penny was not the main part of your post, but I thought this was fitting.
P.S. I Think I was born when Elvis died (wasn't it '78 or '79?) but I do not remember :P

[laura]

OMG i used to stick a penny under my tongue then go to the nurse and you where to "suppose" to have a fever!love and hugs always.

[M&Co.]

I was a teenager, working as a runner, in one of the buildings downtown. This building still had elevator operators (women in ugly uniforms) and they were all crying. I thought it was the strangest thing.

[Meg...CT]

I remember where I was...we were living in upstate NY at the time and I was in grammar school. I was visiting a friend...we were in her living room.
I am glad you are getting out of Dodge...Graceland is as good as any where!
Thinking of you as you tackle a difficult time. Remembering your sweet baby...keeping all of you close in prayer.

[Titanium]

Lighting a candle for you, for all of the days that live in infamy.

[Stacey]

Just an interesting note....I remember when Elvis died, August 16th. It was on my dad's birthday. Then many years later my dad died on Elvis' birthday, January 8th. I have always thought that was pretty neat.

[Emily]

Yes, let them live in their bubbles. I would love to press pause on 11-year-old Lindsay Lohan. In the Parent Trap! So cute and STD-free!

Thinking of you, Shana. I know the next month will be especially hard, but you and your sweet Thalon are remembered by so many. xoxo

[Bree]

Totally, 100% with ya on Elvis & Christmas going hand in hand :o) It's not Christmas unless Elvis is crooning a tune! I hope Graceland is just what you need to get through the rest of the holidays. & make sure you keep your liquor in the trunk while you're on the road ;o) My mom always reminds me when I take a road trip so I'm passing on the tradition lol!

[divrchk]

I was not born yet. Dec. 22nd is my parents' anniversary. I live in the outskirts of Memphis and I have yet to go to Graceland. How's that for randomness?

[Kristie]

I was preparing to enter sixth grade. Although I personally wasn't HUGELY affected, I do remember being sad because I thought (young) Elvis was quite good looking. What I *do* remember is that my sixth grade teacher that year, Mrs. Scatterfield, asked all the students what we thought of Elvis' death a few weeks later, when school had started, and the girl who sat next to me named Janna told the entire class that she was devastated because she had gone to an Elvis concert and he pulled her up on stage and kissed her on the cheek in front of everyone and I knew right then and there that Janna was a big. fat. liar.
The end.

[Julie]

I was 8 when Elvis died, but really don't remember it.

[Anna Marie]

Hugs. Big big hugs, Shana.

I was sitting in the car with my Nana when I heard that Elvis had died. She wasn't as upset as I was.

[Michele]

Elvis and Christmas totally go hand in hand. Growing up in Nashville, my dad made us listen to Elvis every tree trimming. I still think of Santa coming in a "big black Cadillac" :)

[Angella]

I don't remember, but I was 2 1/2 at the time. My parents were huge Elvis fans and I apparently knew all of the words to his songs (Still do). They tell me that when they broke the news to me, I cried.

[a]

I was at my aunt's house and she was DEVASTATED. She loves Elvis still.

I hope Memphis is a good location for you and your family. If it doesn't work, head up I-55 until you get to my house!

[Missy]

WoW, I was 11 when Elvis died, I was watching cartoons when it came on the news. Anyway....I'm glad you'll be out and about. Say Hey to Elvis for me. And I'm proud to say I never did swallow a penny, but there was this quarter that was not so lucky in a random drinking game incident, but you weren't talking about that, hmm. I admire you greatly and am sending you peace, love and hope to carry you through. If you need anything, I'll be right here.

[Rita]

I kinda remember when Elvis died. I remember my grandma saying it, seeming shcoked. That is about all I can muster, a faint mental image. of Nana and I in the bedroom.

I have no penny swallowing story. However I vividly recall watching Emergency! and shoving a brown crayon up my behind. I have no idea if something on the show gave me the idea or if I was a perverted 4 year old. I remember freaking out thinking it was stuck up there and I would get sick and die, but too ashamed and afraid to seek help from my mother and tell her. So I dropped hints about it for days. She never caught on and eventually I figured out since I hadn't dropped yet, I was probably safe. Taught me a lesson though, about putting things where they don't belong.

I am sure that was waaayyyy more info that you ever wanted to know, lol.

[Kirsten]

I was in the back seat of my mom's Pontiac LeMans on the way to her Weight Watchers meeting when the news that Elvis died came on the radio. My mom skipped Weight Watchers that day and we drove home while she cried. It's one of the very few very vivid memories from my childhood.

Take lots of pictures at Graceland. I bet it's pretty cool at Christmas time.

[-R-]

Memphis sounds as good as any place to me. I wasn't born yet when Elvis died, but I have been to Graceland. It's pretty cool.

[Miri]

oh man, i LOVE elvis! I've got a couple of records, if you like I can send them to you, as I don't actually own a record player anymore.
Do take pictures at Graceland & share them with us , please?
I don't think I'll ever get to go, America is a bit far away for us. (Or, really, we could never afford the flights ;))

[Shannon Kieta]

Happy trails to you and your family. Will you be back for Christmas? I think it will do you good to get away. Hell, I have been sitting here staring at a bare tree for three days, until my 4 1/2 yr old said, "Mom, are you going to decorate the tree this year?" I said, "Do I have to?" Yeah Mom! Alright. So I stayed up until 12:30 a.m. to decorate the tree and bawled the whole time. In case you need an update, it's the first Christmas without my sister in 39 years. I reminice of all the old Christmas's decorating our tree, wrapping gifts, and baking cookies. It really does suck big that I can't grow old with my sister. Then I think of your pain, and I cannot bear to compare. You are in my heart my friend. I hope heaven is being good to our loved one's and I hope it is the most beautiful tree of all the Heavens. Happy Birthday sweet baby boy. You will NEVER be forgotten.

[Trisha]

I didn't realize the day was Dec 22nd. That is always a hard day for me as well. This year will be the 16th year in a row that Dec 22nd sucks. Try to have some fun in Memphis- they do make a mean BBQ there...which goes quite nicely with alcohol ;) Happy Birthday Thalon- you are loved more than you could have ever known.

[LAH]

I was 11 when Elvis died. I remember the news coming on the tv in the late afternoon. Hope Memphis is a good get-away for you. You could drive South of there for 20 minutes and gamble in Tunica (they give you free drinks!!). If that doesn't work, drive East and a little South until you get to my house!

[Vicky]

I'm glad you all are getting away. I'll be thinking of you and little Thalon on Dec 22nd and hoping the day is easy as possible on you.

I was a freshman in college when Elvis died. I worked at Taco Bell for this freakish woman that had an Elvis obsession. I've never seen anyone get so upset over a celebrity death.

[Laura]

I remember I was watching a soap opera with my mom when they interrupted with the news of Elvis death. I have lived within 2 hours of Graceland my whole life and have never been there. Need to put that on the "to do" list. I will be thinking of you on the 22nd.