Ripe Goes to Memphis, Tennesee.

We avoided the family obligations, and went on a pilgrimage to Graceland, home of the King.

The faux gates of Graceland... And the real gate of Graceland. Historic site marker for Elvis A. Presley. Graceland Mansion. (I was so excited!) On the historic register. The house was already decorated for Christmas. The living room, with 15' white sofa. These are the King's original decorations. Mama Presley's room, with purple poodle wallpaper in the bath. Looking up the main staircase. They don't let you up there. A portrait of the King. The dining room. It usually has blue velvet curtains. The kitchen, carpeted, and over the top. The TCB tv room- mirrored ceilings! The matching bar. The pool room. Yup- fabric on the ceiling. The Jungle Room! (What I came to see!!!) Elvis and Priscilla's wedding clothes. The white fur, round bed that used to be in his dressing room. He had a black belt. Lisa Marie's swingset. The back yard. Elvis loved horses. A view of the back of the mansion. Newpaper headline. He was very controversial. Grammys. Elvis gave money to everyone. Gold records... and more gold records. Amazing. His mike.... The original stone for his mother's grave was moved to Graceland. The eternal flame for Elvis. Elvis's grave. Stuff at the foot of the grave. Me. Taken by a nice man with a trucker cap. The meditation garden, where everyone is buried. The front yard. His pink caddy. Nice. The love their Elvis down there. His purple, metal-flake caddy. Elvis was funny too. His origianl gold lame suit. From the early years. The black leather comeback outfit. Truely amazing to see one of the jumpsuits in person. Taken by myself. He had many of them.... each one more fab than the next. One of his belt buckles. The King's plane, the "Lisa Marie". Me in front of the mansion. The Peabody Hotel's grand fountain.... and The Peabody ducks... and the Duckmaster. Beale Street juke joint. The brass note for The Blues Brothers on Beale. Eat Drink Boogie Repeat An old sign. The oldest department store in Memphis. Inside A Schwab. Yep- there is a voodoo section. The Orpheum Theater. The motel where MLK was shot still stands. The balcony where Martin Luther King was shot. Protestor- been there for almost 20 years! A social club, with blue astroturff sidewalks. (You know I loved that.) The Mindfield... about an hour outside of Memphis. Amazing. Sun Records. The walls of Graceland are covered with graffiti. The Center of Southern Folklore. I bought two paintings.... and immediatly made friends with the woman who runs the place. Jonny Cash.