Published with expressed permission mr schrembs 2017 all rights reserved

The holidays have started and three more approaching; Hanukkah, CHristmas, and New Years. I hope, and wish, everyone is healthy – happy – and enjoying the life you have this day.

I’m sad. Real sad. And not just because of the carousel of bad health news and missing my children 24/7. I’m sad for the families who have lost loved ones. Families who are dealing with heath issues. Families without transportation. Families without means. Families who are broken. But, because this is an Elvis Presley related blog (and thank you for visiting and we sincerely appreciate it) those mentioned herein.

Inasmuch an I am (personally) sorry, and sad, I have been thinking a lot about those who have passed that not just “shared” a life with Elvis but were integral in the life of Elvis. Those who were essential accounts, firsthand accounts, of his life. His moods. His faults. His dreams. His accomplishments. His shortcomings. His career. His loves. His losses. His giving. His temper. We look back now and see the accomplishments but we forget that Elvis was the best. He did not have the perspective as we do to look back with envy. He was working. He was experimenting. He was living his life. He had no idea how things would play out. He tried. And he tried again. He stayed true to himself. His love of his mother. His life in destitute poverty. His being laughed at and bullied for being different. What all seems like glitz and glitter now only came about because of the summary of all these actions. All these feelings. All these efforts. It looks easy now, because Elvis made everything look easy and it was real and graceful, but he endured hardships and the harshest of criticism and attacks. The Grand Ole Opry, who he grew up listening to and respected, telling him to “go back and drive a truck” while laughing at him as they turned him down to perform at the Opry. How about being called satan? How about being blamed for the rise in delinquency in youths and their violence? How about having derogatory names, and inferences, about his beloved mother? I could go on and on.

My thoughts are on the families, the loved ones, the friends, etc. of those whose loved ones have passed and are still mourned who were in Elvis’ life. In so specific order they are; Patti Perry, Lamar Fike, Red West, Sonny West, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Myrna Smith, and Joe Esposito. Also, Todd Morgan my friend who started at Graceland when it opened and bridged the gap (and I will forever respectfully ask that Billy Smith be given a PERMANENT recognition by EPE/Priscilla/Lisa Marie and make every effort to allow him to share what he wants and never have to worry about money again) between the fans and the estate. To those who know me I don’t take “friendship” lightly and Todd and a few others named in this post were my friends. I miss them. I will always.

May God bless those families/loved ones/friends of those mentioned here and THANK YOU for all you have done and I’m forever sorry for your loss. They were individually and collectively unique and essential. Elvis fans are forever in their debt and count me among them.

Take care and may God bless you all.

Jeff Schrembs