I'm going to Graceland...

Oh, it's early. But Oh, I'm off to Memphis today. There are no words for the excitement that bubbles deep down inside me. My best friend from grad school is doing her fieldwork in Memphis (where she grew up) and I'm off to spend a few days living her field experience (she spent almost two weeks with me here, helping me move back in November). I can't wait to get there... I've never been to Memphis. I've never seen the Mississippi. I've never had to type Mississippi so many times before getting it right. I'm goint to see the Stax Museum. I'm going to a juke joint (and NOT one on Beale Street, either). I'm gonna gaze into the wonder that is the Mississippi river from not only Tennessee, but from Arkansas too! And, most importantly, I'm going to see the King. That's right. I'm going to Graceland (are you all singing now?)


I'm really, really excited about Graceland. My friend Molly, who I don't think even knows about this blog (note to self...) was/is obsessed with Elvis. All through highschool, I teased her about it, because I (idiot that I was) thought I hated Elvis. Oh, I was wrong. As I've gotten older, I've found respect for Elvis on a number of different fronts. But more and more, this respect has turned into an actual enjoyment. And as a friend more obsessed with Elvis than anyone I can imagine pointed out to me while watching a video of an Elvis vegas show from the early 70's -- Elvis really loves what he is doing. It's easy to lose track of the fact that, at the time, Elvis didn't know he was being kitschy. He was just being genuine. And you have to respect a man for being genuine. Especially that genuine. [I feel the need to throw in here that in an interview I conducted yesterday I was told that "Elvis was the worst thing to ever happen to Old Time music." I love this quote... It's true, though. The advent of Rock n' Roll really hurt the classic country music industry. In the words of Melvin Goins, Elvis "shore did take a lot of beans n' taters off'n our plates." -- Bobby, that was for you].

There's no denying Elvis was a pretty amazing musician, as well.

Outside of the excitement of going to Graceland (I just can't say that enough), my trip to Memphis will also herald my first trip to a LYS of any kind in a very long time. I have a strict yarn diet. But I am allowed to buy a skein or two of something pretty, just for the joy of shopping the way I used to -- touching everything until I find something so beautiful, a color so perfect, a texture so amazing, that I have to have it.

So, moral of the story: give me about fifteen more cups of coffee, a lot of NPR talk radio, a few good books on tape, and Memphis -- HERE I COME!!