everything.....elvis

Happy B-day Elvis,

and to anyone else who happens to share the same birthday.

Woke up this morning and almost called in sick in honor of the day. Wanted to stay home and continue my latest read, which is in the "Odd Thomas" series by Dean Koontz. Now the main character, Odd Thomas, has a sidekick of sorts....dead Elvis. He follows him from book to book and mystery to mystery. He entertains Odd by wearing costumes from his various movies, and doing outrageous things in order to get Odd to laugh while he is engaged in deep conversations, usually with suspicious police. Elvis never says or sings a word, just hangs in support of Odd.
Seems according to the author, that Elvis will not pass on into the next life, because of Gladys.
Now anyone and everyone knows he loved his mama, but he is too ashamed of his former drug use and how he died to enter into the great beyond.......suppose even Elvis has/had parent issues.......and he is 73 today. He appears to Odd sometimes just crying.

Upon reading this take on Elvis, I wonder what he has to cry about, besides the shame he feels having gone the drug route.......Oh, Dean, you simply must have one of your other characters, preferably a woman....a mother....explain to Odd or to Elvis that mothers don't hold that sort of stuff against a child........its totally unconditional love when it comes to mother and son.

I suspect Mrs. Koontz has advised Dean of such, but perhaps she thougtht it through.....no use
wasting all that "workable guilt" mothers have placed on son's (and daughters) .

I can't help but wonder if Elvis were still hanging around in ghost fashion, would he be happy with all that has happened since his demise. Now excluding the Lisa Marie/Michael Jackson fiasco.... cause that would have killed him for sure. If he were still living ......what kind of guy would old Elvi be right about now........

I think the answer to that is simple.....you can take the boy outta Memphis, but you can't take
Memphis outta the boy.......

for example, he'd have moved to Hernando or Tunica when Willie made mayor. He'd be doing
16 shows a week from Bluesville or perhaps his own, Heartbreak Hotel Gambling and Casino Hall
He'd be going hunting at the beer camp. He'd be a reserve policeman, he'd be outspoken against illegal aliens and he'd sing about it on his 55th christmas album entitled....."Felis My Ass".........he'd be just like the rest of us old farts at 73........tired, cynical, and wondering who the hell we've left running this show.

The only people who would pay any real attention to him would be the same people who pay attention to him now......his devout fans from all corners of the world......

I'm so thankful that he is gone and hasn't had to endure the slings and arrows of old age.......the dentures, the walking farts, poor eyesight, hair loss, unwanted hair gain, the loss of friends and family.

He lives in memories, and photographs, movies, and even in current mystery novels.
So chins up Elvis, nothing to cry about........have a jelly donut and enjoy your day.