Visit to Graceland – That’s My Desire

Visit to Graceland - That's My Desire

As my goal is in connection with Elvis Presley I used titles of his songs to write about my aim and about the Pieces Of My Life.

Who Am I? I’m a Hard Headed Woman who dreams The Impossible Dream and would like to live in a Wonderful World. I live in Budapest, near to the Blue River called Danube in a flat where The Walls Have Ears. I’m not in the Promised Land here, but it’s a nice home, I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here, but There’s So Much World To See… and I would like to travel to Memphis to visit Graceland, where Elvis lived and to Tupelo to see the house where he was born.

Sometimes I feel I Was Born About 10000 Years Ago, I had many Wasted Years, but let’s Talk About The Good Times…

In my first 9 years I lived in the country where I could enjoy the Green Green Grass Of Home, animals like Hound Dogs, cats, pigs, cows, etc. and where I could see the famous Mirage on hot summer days and the Blue Moon, the Milky White Way at clear, starry nights. Sometimes I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water and could build only Sand Castles but I was happy there with my loved grandparents. My parents got divorced and left me there, so my grandmother was my Mama and my grandfather was my Papa.

Unfortunately my mother turned up and wanted me to move to her into the capital. I felt she was the Devil In Disguise, I was Indescribably Blue and I cried Like A Baby when I had to leave my grandparents and my home. Mama Liked The Roses, so I gave her roses by The Last Farewell and I felt There’s No Tomorrow.

The city was too big for me and I was Stranger In My Own Home Town, I missed the Loving Arms of my grandparents. I couldn’t do anything, so Slowly But Surely I became an urban girl. I still miss the country and would like to go back later, but It’s Different Now, I can enjoy the walks Down By The Riverside, the Harbor Lights or the City By Night. To be honest, Budapest is a wonderful city with lots of lovely places to go.

In 1982 I watched This Is Elvis in the cinema. It changed me and my life. I was 18 years old. I didn’t know anything about Elvis, so I decided to read about him, to listen to his songs, to watch his films, etc. I became an Elvis fan. At that time we lived “behind the iron curtain”, so it was not easy at all. I said “Come What May” and went to the Hungarian Elvis Presley Fan Club to join them. I got my first membership card in January 1984, Almost on Elvis’ birthday. That’s Something, I feel. I found friends in the fan club and - through correspondence - from different countries, too. Some friends visited me in Budapest and I also visited some friends in Europe. Elvis fans belong to a big family and it is My Happiness to belong to them.

Many friends visited Graceland and they say “You must see Graceland!”. Well, yes, but how? It’s Easy For You, but it’s The Impossible Dream for me! It would cost a fortune and I would need decades to get the money for it. During the years I’ve lost a lot: family, love, partners, friends, and money. No, I’m not gambling or so, I just had Hard Luck with employers and other kind of people. It’s No Fun Being Lonely and poor. Who Needs Money? I do! I’m already 52 now, I don’t have decades to wait and unfortunately do not have family members to help me. I decided to Follow That Dream and I’m Doing The Best I Can but I can’t do it alone, It’s Impossible. I need help. I am a beginner in fundraising, but I hope I will have Beginner’s Luck and at the end I can say I Got Lucky.

My destination is Memphis Tennessee, my desire is to visit Graceland. Don’t Ask Me Why, please, I’m sure you already know, but if you don’t… the answer is Blowin’ In The Wind… Every day I have An Evening Prayer, I ask God to Lead Me, Guide Me and to Help Me. He Knows Just What I Need and It Is No Secret What God Can Do, so I Believe my wish comes true soon.

Elvis was so generous, a warm-hearted, loving, caring, wonderful man, he gave so much to his fans and to strangers, too. Maybe you do not know but he is very special for us, Hungarians, because he helped us in 1956, after the revolution. He received the honorary citizenship in Budapest and there is a park named after Elvis in the capital. Why? This Is The Story:

“On 6th January 1957 before the end of the Ed Sullivan Show, by the request of Elvis Presley Mr. Sullivan has announced that the singer is very fond of helping the Hungarian people very urgently and that's why he is preparing a charity concert for the benefit of the Hungarians and asks the viewers of the show to send donations to Red Cross, different churches, etc. After this announcement Elvis has sung a song to create a mood he also would have liked to reach, a >>Peace in the Valley<<. After this invocation Hungary has got more than 26 million Swiss francs, which has arrived to the people in need in the country in the form of Red Cross aid packages. Jack Soden, president of Elvis Presley Enterprises has said during the inauguration of Elvis' honorary citizenship that Elvis mostly at the beginning of his career, but even later on has never made policy statements, so it makes this invocation more accentual as it was taken to the interest of the Hungarian people, which means that the destiny of the Hungarians was really important for him.”

So I think now you can understand why I’d like to visit the home of Elvis. I’d like to place my flowers and a present from Hungary on his grave and say thank you for everything he did ad gave for me, for us and I’d like to feel his soul, his presence in Graceland and participate in the candlelight vigil at least once in my lifetime.

So, What’d I Say? Please, be the First In Line and say: „I Can Help”. I’ll be very grateful for each support, thank you very much.