3
THE MICHIGAN REVIEW
September 13, 1995
o THE ELECTRIC SNAPPLE ACID TEST Goin' To Graceland
It's Gonna Be Fun
up" sign. She waved back and I smiled about the incident all the way back to Michigan. After tracing the Mississippi River to Memphis we took the obligatory Graceland walking tour, complete with personalized headphones through which we learned important Elvis facta like the time Elvis went on
SuUivan, Elvis on tour, Elvis in magashops. I heard people complain about zines. Elvis had country hits, Elvis "sprawl" before, and I've seen comhad rock and roll hits, Elvis could HE GREAT AMERICAN munities go up in arms about strip dance. Road Trip. This fabled Amerimalls, but I can assure them that Elvis also gave people hope. He can institution is perhaps as their situation is relatively trivial comwas the small town boy from Tupelo, old as America herself Pick a destinapared to what I saw in Memphis Mississippi, who made it big. He gave tion or just drive - it's said that the not only a strip mall with one Elvis journey is better than the destination. dreamers hope and substantiated souvenir store, but an entire strip I embarked on the Great Ameripeople's faith in the American Dream. mall of Elvis souvenir stores, four in This points to the irony in Elvis's can Road Trip this summer and got all. And they all had the same stuff, nickname - the King. To many he the best of both worlds: the destinasave the one that 801d "Love Me Tenwas the second coming of the Mestion was the American pop culture der" shampoo/conditioner. The same siah. To me, however, he's just one mecca of Graceland; the journey a key chains, place mats, spoons, shot cool rock. and roll cat. myriad of small towns, farms, and glasses, airbrushed t'r-iiliirts, buttons, mile after mile of flat, 95 degree, 95 The best thing about this road and socks - you name it, these four trip is that it was 80 uniquely Amerishops had it. The only thing I didn't mph, W'l-e.irconditioned terrain. can. In fact, it's American to the We drove 1400 milee in all - scme see was an Elvis air freshener. Too would say exactly 1400 miles too many cheeziest, utmost degree. Not to say bad - I would have bought it in a to see 15 foot long couchee, the jungle that things wr-American are not good; second. it's just that once and a while I think room, and other cheezy Graceland I wish I could've been alive to see it's theraputic to delve into Ameristaples. But those 1400 milee encomElvis in his prime "Hunka Hunka passed seven different states, each cana, to become part of Americana. Bmnin' Love" days. It's nearly imposThilil nothow I gat to Grac:aand It's the American notion of "getting with a distinct culture - from the sible to understand Elvis's widespread away from it all"; it's the American Mississippi River barge-influenced a meatloafbinge and ate meatloaf for worldwide popularity. Whatever he notion of hitting the open road; it was New Madrid, Missouri, to the N~gra something like six months straight - touched turned to gold - or platia pi.lgrimage to the great metaphor of Falla-eaque atmosphere of Cave City, or when Elvisuied to practice ~ • num, in the case of his numerous the American Dream - Graceland. tial arts at the bottom of the grand Kentucky. We passed through three platinum records. Elvis mounted a So go to Graceland, and pick me up a separate cities named "Bowling staircase near the front door of full frontal attack on all forms of mebottle of "Love Me Tender" shampoo Green," one of which had a lawn tracGraceland. dia in his generation: there were Elvis - mine's almost empty. Ml tor pull (from stock to wildly modified) Of courae, Graceland is preserved movie8, Elvis records, Elvia on Ed in ita full late '5Oe-early '60s granto celebrate the city's annual "'Setdeur, chock-full of goodies like the tlers' Festival." A resident informed billiards room with pleated paisleyme that it was her cousin's husband I.S.I'. O FrICIIS' T I AI I I IG C Ol 'S like fabric on the walls and ceiling or who was driving one of the tractors, the infamous bar with blue and yeland it was this cousin's Bon who won low vinyl and three televisions. You the pedal tractnr pull. see, Elvis liked to watch all three Why does it always seem that networks at once, just like President people outside your community are Johnson. always friendlier than those inside The tour concludes with Elvis's your community? When we were only grave. I still get the chills when I see a few hours outside of Graceland, a even the toughest Harley Davidson family in a Lincoln pulled beside us men in leather tear up when they and noticed we were headed to come to the King's grave. You can't Graceland (a fact that seemed pretty help but feel bad for Elvis, or even hard to miss considering the three more 80 for the people to whom he foot long "Goin' to Graceland" sign I meant so much. I watched a docutaped to the rear window). They asked mentary about Graceland on PBS us if we knew where we were going, once, and one lady put it best: "'!here and the next thing I knew we were are three Kings in heaven now - my following these strangers into Mem. phis. husband, Elvis, and Je8U8 Christ." But what I find most shocking Heading back to Michigan, I obabout the whole Graceland experiserved a minivan struggling to keep ence is the simple fact that Elvis's up with US in light traffic - it pulled name is spelled wrong on his graveup beside us and motioned for me to Drive. Intensity. Those aren't words ter, self-confidence and decision-making stone. Elvis was born Elvis Aron roll down my window. When I finally you're l1kely to see in many course skills. Again , words other courses selrequirements. Then again, Army ROTC dom use. But they're the credits you Presley, but his gravestone contains deciphered what the lady yelling at is unlike any other elective. It's need to succeed in life. ROTC is an elTOr in his middle name, spelling me was saying, I discovered that she hands-on excitement ROTC will open to freshmen and sophomores it "Aaron" instead. This might be the had seen my "Polish and Proud" without obligation and requires challenge you mentally and physW'lderstatement of the century, but to sticker (and prototypical Polish eagle) ically through intense leadership about 4 hours per week. Register misspell Elvis Presley's name is a training. Training that builds characthis term for Army ROTC. that I display on my driver side rear pretty big mistake, to say the least. window. She asked. me if I am Polish Elvis's father and mother are buried - 8Ol't of an odd question to ask when next to him, and a marker pays tribdriving 70 mph in light traffic - and TIE SMUTEST COJ.LEGE COUISE YOU W rUE. ute to Elvis's little-known twin I nodded and gave her the "thumbsFor details, visit Room 131, North Hall or c:aU brother who died while very young. 764-3029 After the obligatory Graceland Th.U wed'e column W<J8 gholtt written walking tour came the obligatory visit by Elvu Pruley. Greg Parler never to the unofficial Graceland souvenir came bacl from. Gracel4nd. BY GREG PARKER
T
PREREGUISITE: ADRENAUNE ·
i
ARMY ROTC
__
._ -- _. __.__._._....•--_._. ._----
,----.---.-------,-----.-----.--.--~--------' ".·,·.,' ..·,,,~..,.. ,. "N....~ .. , ·"" ·,'.W.....,"".A"''''~'',},..,.,,.,;,~',-{Iw"'~_n ';",.,_v~~~~"'"..... ..._ · - - -.....-
_