Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Golden Sky]

Hello friends,

I thought I'd share this family story with you.

In the early 1950's, my husband's Uncle Mike was a medical student in Memphis. He would go on to graduate first in his class, and he became a chief pathologist at a large hospital in Georgia. He is a great, loving man whose life has been a success. However he does enjoy drinking a little and has often told this story when he is a bit drunk.

He tells of how he and his fellow med students often would go to a local cafe of sorts in Memphis. They'd have a rowdy time eating and drinking together. There happened to be a strangely dressed young fellow named "Elvis" who frequented this same place. They got acquainted with him, and he often sat with them. If I remember correctly, he also had his guitar with him sometimes and would play music. However, the med students thought they were much classier and better than this young man, and when they left, they'd make fun of him.

Hmmmmm...

One day when he was a little older, perhaps doing his residency someplace, Uncle Mike was listening to the radio and heard the announcer say the singer's name was "Elvis." He was a little dumbfounded. He called one of his friends from med school and asked, "Did you hear that Elvis guy on the radio? Is that OUR Elvis???" Yes, of course it was.

When Uncle Mike gets to this part of the story he covers his face with his hands and slouches onto the table. He says, "You know, if I had been any smarter, I would have befriended Elvis when I had the chance. I could've been a member of the Memphis Mafia! ...I could've BEEN somebody! But NO, I had to choose to be a stupid doctor." Then he drinks more of his whiskey and shakes his head sadly. I think to a certain extent he has real regrets over this.

A true story, and I'll bet there are more people out there who are saying the same thing!

[Amanda Viola]

This is a great, beautiful story, with a great, beautiful teaching within!

THANK YOU, TRISH!

[Sarena]

This is a great, beautiful story, with a great, beautiful teaching within!

THANK YOU, TRISH!

Yeah, great!!!!!!

[MaryInTheMorning]

What an absolutely wonderful and very touching story. Definitely a great teaching within as you so perfectly said dear Amanda!! It kind of brings to mind the introduction that Elvis made one time to the song "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" during one of his shows in August of 1970 : "You never stood in that man's shoes, or saw things through his eyes. Or stood and watched with helpless hands, while the heart inside you dies. So help your brother along the way, no matter where he starts. For the same God that made you made him too.....these men with broken hearts." Thank you so much sweet Trish for sharing this great story with us my dear friend!!

[FairyTale]

AMEN TO THAT MARI! I think Elvis should have said those very words he said more often, but I doubt they still would have Listened. FairyTale!

[Blue Moon]

What an interesting story Trish!!

What came to my mind is that your uncle could have been both. He could have still been a doctor & also been Elvis' friend w/o having to be one of the full time MM. I guess what I was thinking is that Elvis could have used another doctor's watchful eye along the way. I wonder would another doctor have spotted the seriousness of Elvis' condition far enough in advance to help him. Would another doctor have thought to give him a heart examination even when he appeared to look quite healthy. It's easy to say this in hindsight, but I can't help but wonder if Elvis could have been warned & helped far enough in advance to keep him healthier & living many more years. Then too, with the pressure Elvis was under to keep the strenuous performing going, one wonders would it have made a difference. Still, I can't help but think he had less than adequate medical advice along the way, except until near the end & by then it was too late.

[Wanda June Hill]

Hi, Golden Sky your uncle and his friends were the envey of Elvis's heart and he was thrilled to sit with them. Probably in awe that they were going to college and med school and let him sit with them. He would have liked being a doctor, thought about it but had no way to go to college-money of course was the draw back and he wasn't "smart enough" to get any kind of help, or study enough. He was working all the time, he didn't have much time to study etc:. But your uncle can know that Elvis revered those who did become doctors, to him it was a great occupation, helping folks in need, saying them, healing as he put it with God's help, and then to bring life into the world, to be there when the baby takes the first breath, when the "spirit enters the house in wich it will reside on earth" was his words-he believed that until the child took in that first breath-the breath of life, it didn't have the spirit that would guide and keep it while here. He quoted Bible to back up his belief and I have to say, that's my belief also. To Elvis your uncle was training to be SOMEBODY very important, somebody whom Elvis looked up to all of his life, even when he became famous.
So your Uncle and his friends sat there, with this odly dressed kid and he was pleased and probably knowing him, tried to be one of the "guys" with them...tried to "make them like me" etc:...and he made an impression-they knew who "Elvis" was and they recognized him as being "our Elvis"!
And he was that, and still is. He can be proud that he let Elvis join the boys and shared what Elvis felt was really "somethin' to be going to be a doctor an' help people". Thanks for posting that, one more piece of the puzzle that is "our Elvis". wjh

[Golden Sky]

Thank you, everyone, for sharing this story with me!

Mari: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE when Elvis recites that poem. I think it has to be one of the most poignant, beautiful moments in entertainment history.
I watch it over and over.

Laurie, I see what you mean, and now I'm a little sad things didn't turn out that way. This uncle was indeed a spectacular doctor and saved his daughter from a brain tumor that was expected to have killed her...he's done some remarkable things in healing, I think it's because he's always gone the extra mile. So I do regret he didn't stand by Elvis. Of course, so does he...

One of his friends performed the autopsy on Elvis. But Uncle Mike has no special information about it. I wish he lived closer and that we could talk more, I'd ask him a thousand questions about his "Elvis days."

Wanda, you put a lump in my throat. Thank you for giving these med students some credit when I had thought of them only severely. It never even occurred to me that Elvis had chosen to sit with them because of his interest in medicine. I thought Elvis was perceptive and sensitive enough to keep his distance from smug students who might have thought they outclassed him; but perhaps his innocence, his belief in the goodness of people, and his reverence for the healing arts surpassed his other feelings.
Your insight has made me appreciate this story much, much more than I ever did before....a heart full of thanks to you!

Finally, friends, the Uncle that I mentioned is currently hospitalized...if you think of it please send a prayer his way. He is religious and I know he appreciates it.

Love, and thank you,
Trish

[Golden Sky]

oops I forgot to put smiles in that last post, and I meant to.



there!

[MaryInTheMorning]

Sweet Trish I too LOVE it when Elvis recites that poem before singing "Walk a Mile" and I also find myself watching it over and over because you can really hear the conviction in his heart that he has when reciting those powerful and poignant words. Maybe as if re-calling all the times in his life/career that he was judged, criticized, accused of wrong-doings, etc......and he was trying to pass along this important message to his audience??? In any case, by posting what I did above, I hope that it didn't come across as harshly judging your uncle or his friends over what they did because that most definitely was NOT my intention. If it may have come across that way, I am so very sorry my dear friend. I say this because even though like Wanda said, Elvis thought VERY highly of doctors and held them in such high regard, I too had not thought of the story you shared with us in the beautiful way that our dear Wanda explained it. I got a lump in my throat too because I had not stopped to think that even though the med students did make fun of him, that Elvis was thrilled to sit with them as he admired what they were all doing with their lives as a means of helping others. Such a wonderful way of looking at this very touching story and I thank you so much Wanda for your beautiful and wise insight on it!!! Trish I know you said that your Uncle has regrets and while that is understandable, he really shouldn't because even though he may not realize it, he was a part of Elvis' life in a very special way because as Wanda said, he was doing something with his life that Elvis so very much admired!! Of course I shall think of your Uncle Mike and most definitely keep in my thoughts and prayers dear Trish. Sending lots of HEALING LOVE AND LIGHT in the direction of a man who has spent a great deal of time helping to heal others with his knowledge and God's help!!!

[Golden Sky]

THANK YOU MARI!

I never thought you were being harsh!! Not at all. At any rate, they deserved it. But I agree with you, that Wanda shed a whole new light on the scenario, and I wished I could have thought of it that way myself in the first place...oh well, "Better when wisdom comes late than never at all"! And we're grateful for our teachers.

I'm so happy you watch Walk a Mile in my Shoes repeatedly, too. I think we're seeing the same thing...there's so much honesty and truth in his words, it's like he's really living out the calling of a preacher there, as he does at other times, too. (The fact that he's one of the world's most beautiful men ever doesn't hurt the presentation.)

Thank you also for your prayers, and for that truly beautiful picture; it warms my heart to look at it.

Always love talking with you,
Trish

[MaryInTheMorning]

Thank you so much for saying that you didn't think I was being too harsh with what I said dear Trish. Elvis' beautiful words just immediately came to mind for some reason after I read what you posted. I am so greatful to Wanda for the new prespective she put on the situation. Sweet Trish when you said "Better when wisdom comes late than never at all"! And we're grateful for our teachers. I couldn't help but think what wise and wonderful words those are and could very easily picture our dear Elvis saying the exact same thing!! Oh and how VERY greatful we are for our teachers!!!!

I'm so happy you watch Walk a Mile in my Shoes repeatedly, too. I think we're seeing the same thing...there's so much honesty and truth in his words, it's like he's really living out the calling of a preacher there, as he does at other times, too. (The fact that he's one of the world's most beautiful men ever doesn't hurt the presentation.)

I do watch it alot and it makes me do that little shiver that Elvis always did whenever the lyrics of a song really touched his heart. Yep, we definitely are seeing the exact same thing my dear friend!! Oh and as to what you said in parenthesis above I have but 1 word to add: AMEN!!!!!!!!
You are very welcome for the prayers and for the picture dear angel and please know how very much I enjoy talking to you too!!!

For everyone who likes this song and the heartfelt words that Elvis so beautifully recites before he sings it!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPZpzQcW8GE Enjoy my dear angels!!

[Amanda Viola]

For your uncle, Trish...

[Golden Sky]

Thank you for those prayers, Amanda! And I love the idea of bubbles carrying healing. It's almost a child-like concept, perfectly fitting with the kingdom of heaven and its children and innocence. Beautiful!

Mari, your letter put a big smile on my face. If I took before and after pictures, you'd see what I mean ...anyway, thank you! I think it's clear we couldn't agree MORE on these topics.

And thank you for the youtube link!!! I just watched it twice, so you can imagine that I'm still glowing from it.

Much love, see you on the next topic,
Trish

[MaryInTheMorning]

You are very welcome dear angel and so glad I was able to help put a smile on your face!!! Guess what?? Just watched it twice myself and that glow that you mentoned goes on and on!!! Wishing you much LIGHT and LOVE always my sweet friend!!!