Dan turned off of hwy 90 that follows the shore of the gulf to get something to eat in downtown Biloxi Mississippi. It was bitter cold, just above freezing this Friday afternoon, he was almost thinking about blowing off the whole deal and turn in to go to bed at Biloxi Hotel Bookings. But no, getting seated at Rena's Deli, he ordered lunch and reconnected to why he was down here in the first place. To go the the birthplace of Elvis in Tupelo, since today was Elvis' birthday, and Dan had driven all the way in his unheated 56 cadillac.
The waitress asked if he was going to the house, knowing the answer since most every unknown face that came in was there for the same reason. "How did you know?" Dan asked; "Just got that metaphysical thang" she replied. "You wanted sugar tea?", "Yes". Dan then started thinking of the first Elvis song he got hooked on. Hound Dog? no; Jailhouse Rock? No. He kept thinking....yes, it was "Don't be cruel". He spent long hours trying to learn that on his first guitar, getting it down finally at the end of the summer of 74.
He paid his tab and spent the next 4 hours getting to Tupelo, and every 10 miles dropped another 2 degrees. 21 degrees and closing in on sunset, he approaches the porch, with guitar in hand, and simply stands and stares. What a small house, what a humble beginning. He picks silently some of the ballads of Elvis, as though he was lulling the baby king to sleep. Hours went by, darkness set in, and the local police were beginning to circle the block ready to proceed.
Dan finished his homage, took his guitar back to the car, shivering from the global warming, and started the engine. The day had come and gone, but the memory will burn on forever...
No comments:
Post a Comment