RUSSELL VISITS GRACELAND - OCTOBER 22, 2017

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  My six year old grandson Russell, who will turn 7 on October 27th, is an avid fan of Elvis Presley. My wife promised him a trip to Graceland for his birthday. Russell is a very special child. He was born with spina bifida and he doesn't let his condition hold him back. Russell plays Little League baseball, hockey, and wheelchair basketball. A couple of years ago he won the Academy Sports Athlete of the Year Award for the town of Smyrna Tennessee. You cannot wipe the perpetual smile off of his face. He not only loves Elvis but he is a history buff like his pa. Russell had a ball touring Graceland but he was one tired little boy when we left there. Walking can wear him out. This makes my 4th trip to Graceland although I didn't go inside the house on my first trip. That was in the summer of 1958. Right after Elvis bought the mansion in 1957 and a few months after he was drafted into the Army. My mother and my sister Donna were both rabid fans. Donna managed to take some leaves from the front yard as souvenirs. Even then the front wall was covered by fan graffiti. I still have a home movie image of Graceland from 1958. Graceland had a rural feel to it back then. Today it has an urban atmosphere.


Graceland 2017



Graceland living room

Russell visiting the living room



Lisa Marie and Priscilla in the living room
The stairway 2017

Elvis & Lisa Marie at the stair case
Vernon & Gladys Presley's bedroom
Dining Room

Dining room
The kitchen
The Jungle Room






The TV Room

The TV Room

Mirrors in the ceiling of the TV Room

The bar

The Billiard Room

The Billiard Room

The Billiard Room

Billiard Room

Vernon's Office

Vernon's Office
Elvis's body @ Graceland

Elvis funeral procession leaving Graceland




Elvis original resting place @ Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis
Elvis was moved to this location by his dad Vernon @ Graceland

The original grave location for Glady's Presley in Forest Hill's cemetery
Elvis & Vernon visiting the original site of Glady's Presley's grave in Forest Hill's

The Jesus statue that used to be @ the site of Glady's grave @ Forest Hills

Russell by the Jesus statue in the Garden of Meditation
The present location of Glady's Presley @ Graceland
Russell in the Garden of Meditation

Vernon & Glady's with Elvis

Grave of Vernon Presley
Grave of Elvis grandmother Minnie Mae Presley
Minnie Mae Presley
Marker honoring the twin brother of Elvis who is buried in an unmarked grave in Tupelo
Elvis's pink Cadillac



The pink Cadillac in front of Graceland
Elvis's purple Cadillac
Elvis with one of his many cars @ Graceland

The black leather outfit that he wore on his 1968 comeback TV special

Elvis's 1968 TV special
One of Elvis's many gold records


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