Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Rainbow Light]

Elvis had so much bravery and courage with all the pain he had to go and do that concert but he looked and sang his best, gave it everything he had. Knowing what he had to suffer physically adds yet another layer of admiration for Elvis though it's pretty heartbreaking too especially as he did so well to hide and cover it up.

As regards Priscilla, I did find a quote from Mr Larry Schnapf who was Director of Recording Operations for the Aloha show who had this to say about Elvis:

What I did notice and was very moved by it was the very apparent loss he felt for his wife. You could see the pulling on his heart strings as he was singing with semi-anger but also with a lot of love for her. I was very moved by his reaching out for her. I felt sorry for the man. My heart went out to him because he was in so much pain.

I could see times when Elvis, so hurt and in pain - either physical or emotional, would cover how he felt with a kind of self-mockery or laughing at himself with the audience so they wouldn't know or guess how deeply he felt. Some of them did understand but others not of course.
Purely, as I consider him a friend and spiritual brother, l would've wanted to give him a big hug and to just let him have known I was there for him as a friend would've meant the world to be honest.

Like Barb, glad Elvis never will have to suffer what he did in this world with those people around who hurt and attacked him. I can guess who the members of the mm are who were on a different payroll other than just Elvis' but I'm not gonna mention them by name! I am gonna struggle with this one as far as forgiveness goes, a few prayers are in order I think relating to that particular score! If Elvis was big enough a man to forgive them though, this should be kept in mind for sure!

[Barbara Lea]

I notice when he was rehearsing and even during the concert, that he kept trying to keep the sweat out of his eyes. I also noticed that on the second dvd that he acted like he had a headache. I don't know if its a bond I have with Elvis, but I could feel his saddness when he did certain songs, I well never understand Priscilla how she could just up and tell him NO when all he wanted from her was a Little Support in coming with him to do this Concert. I certainly hoped she didn't put herself out by watching the Concert, Priscilla has never been my Favorite Person. I know Elvis had to be in alot of pain especially having a neddle in the eye like that, but it goes to show once again How Truly A SWEET HEART LOVING DEVOTED MAN HE WAS FOR HIS FANS!! Barb

[Rainbow Light]

He must have been in so much pain with the glaucoma and the headaches he suffered, poor love! There was such a sadness about him when he sang certain songs and "Lord, You Gave Me A Mountain", I believe he had stated this song was not about him and Priscilla but the words, specially in the 2nd verse are so similar to what he was going through at the time and you can pick up a kind of wistful sadness about him, like he so wished it had worked out for him.

No, Priscilla is not my favourite person either and another issue I greatly struggle with!! but nonetheless, even though it hurts in a deep way to know so, he did love her so whether we like it or not!

[Wanda June Hill]

She and Lisa did watch it, he was laughing over it later.
Lisa watched all his movies, specials and etc: over and over she has said in the past. So much so, that I heard there was concern for her time spent watching her daddy so much, but apparently, she needed to do that.
Lots of kids who lose a parent can't watch them at all-but it's a good thing when they do-and for the lost's mate also-helps them to remember and to recover I think, but I'm no psyc doc. , just my thoughts from personal experience. I shut things about Elvis out for years-couldn't watch or listen much at all, and now I am sorry I was that way-boy I went through every grief and regret imaginable just a few months ago and I WOULD not want to do that again over any body! It's better to face it and go on, that's my thoughts anyway, based on myself and my own emotional experiences. Everyone is different though and we all have to face things in the way that our heart and brain can except it. I think our spirit knows us best-and will protect us when it has to when dealing with trauma of any kind. Especially if we are prone to listen to our spirit talking to us-I don't know what people who shut themselves off to such things do-maybe they just turn wrong side out and get it over with or close up until something comes along that breaks the shell? Wjh

[Rainbow Light]

I didn't know that about Lisa that she'd watched Elvis so much at one stage but obviously she needed to do that and to deal with it in that particular way, whatever and however one has to accept it at some stage.

Guess it all depends on each individual how they accept/deal with trauma of one kind or another, grief seems to be better let out than bottled up but then initially each person has to go through various stages before they can go on.

[Rainbow Light]

Don't know if anyone has seen this?

Have got a copy of a video of one of Elvis' last concerts in 1977 where Elvis meets a little Sioux, Native American girl backstage and she gives him a gift from her own tribe. He stops and talks to her and is just so kind and sweet with the little girl, taking time out with her - he was just so great with children. She was, meanwhile, quite overwhelmed I think though can't say I blame her really, in a way!

Just an adorable and charming moment and gives yet one more idea to how Elvis touched and reached so many people's hearts and spirits. So many times too where he'd take time out with fans even if he was not feeling so great himself which I know, specially in the last year or so he was really caught up with so many health issues/problems and medical conditions plus what was going on around him else-wise.

[Lighthouseseeker]

Sue I watched it.. a prescious but sad moment as well..God bless his beautiful spirit..

[Rainbow Light]

Yes, indeed! Such a sweet, kind soul, hope he now knows true peace and rest with his Mom and all of his family.

[Rainbow Light]

I read earlier postings about Elvis doubling up in pain at times, throwing up at the side of the stage, having a transverse colon, his eyes killing him with the stage lights and all the camera flash bulbs, migraines and so much else.

He MUST have been in absolute agony so many times and yet still went on stage - that was Elvis, I know and he gave so, so much - perhaps because he needed to if he was being threatened by Parker, the mafia or whatever else? but also because this beautiful, sweet man was so self-less he could not bear to let anyone down, not least his fans and those he worked with - his family and so many others.

Lord, bless his soul for all this wonderful man, our dearest Elvis, gave us and may he know eternal peace with You.

[Wanda June Hill]

Elvis was berating himself one day, feeling very disgusted with himself and I said, Well, all that may be true, but you are 95% of the time a nice guy, kind, sweet, funny and very masculine in all ways, that makes you pretty much a great guy, doesn't it? He was silent a minute and then huffed, "makein' me sound like some kinda saint-an you know damn well I ain't no saint!"
That's true he wasn't no saint-but he tired his best to be all things to all people, putting himself last and saying that to be able to make others happy, to ease their cares, help them over a rough spot and then stand back and get to see them smile, see their happiness and feel their joy-well, it was worth it all just for that. I get the greatest highs, the best of times and I'm so blessed by God and these people, how can I look at my life when it's not goin' the way I might want and not be glad I'm me? Man, I got it all-an more-just want to share it while I can, that 's all...um selfish-want to be there and see 'em share it! (He laughed happily) After that he was cheerful and bubbly and got over putting himself down.
There were far more good times shared with him over the phone, than bad times. Rough times came-but good ones came rushing in to make it better very soon. It was like as he put it a "storm...comin' in slow, then gettin' rough and then easin' off to let the clouds break and the sun come through- that's life...the way it's meant to be."

[Rainbow Light]

Like the choice of words from Elvis and just SO right too! Has given me so much enjoyment from listening to his voice, his music, concerts and so much else he left us to remember him by. No, he wasn't a saint by any means but yet a good hearted human being who always tried his very best with the life he had, whatever had happened.

Also the big circle of friends I have made over the years, and when I went to Elvis events I always seemed to make acquaintance then friends with so many more people, and it seems like they have become like extended family really! Sorry if I sound slushy, but it's true!

Just wish I could have the chance to thank Elvis personally, from my heart and soul, for all the happiness he's brought to my life. I don't mean in a 'gushy' way or anything but though I mean it to be truly heartfelt and sincere and it is!, I can imagine he'd have probably been embarrassed by that and chosen to play it down, right? .....

[Wanda June Hill]

You'd probably get that, kind of oh no, look and then the "thank you, thank you very much" response...or depending on the place this happened, a hug that you'd never ever forget-his hugs were special and then there was that warmness and enveloping persona/aura of him too along with that wonderful warmed faintly spicey scent with the underlaying clove scent that clung to your clothes too! And if he had a cigar, I would hope it would be the vanilla ones or the cherry ones-I didn't like the other's he smoked -but those special ones were great.
They cost a lot too...and only were sold in one store in Hollywood that I know of. I went looking for some to give him but couldn't find any and finally ordered some from that store up there! He was surprised, he probably had boxes of them, but he was very surprised that I got some for him-and it wasn't his birthday either he-said. He wanted to know what was the occasion and I told him it was a "because gift" and he grinned and ducked his head down, then said, "You been talkin' to Suzy-that's what she told me too." She had sent him a book that she had and he "hinted" that he would like one as he had not heard about it. So she did as a surprise. He was so sweet, he opened the box of cigars, got one out, lit it and blew the smoke to the side but waved his hand so it would float over us- and he smiled with the cigar between his teeth- he looked so cute-and so young right at that moment. He was about 28 then I think... I still have the little band off the cigar-he handed it to me as if he expected that I wanted it...guess he was used to that so he just automaticlly handed it over. I took it and said, oh great, I'll give this to Julie, she keeps every thing." And he chuckled... saying for me to "bring her by sometime-hadn't seen her in a while." That year he bought her pedal racing car, the latest kid toy on the market and then Jimmie put a motor on it so she had a real racing car-she was about 5 and used the school park sidewalks for a track. He also bought her an electric kids guitar and amp, a set of drums and a small organ-her room was full of stuff-and she didn't part with a thing! He also gave her jewelry-she was a little kid and had a small ruby ring, a gold bracelet and then as she grew things got bigger-a diamond ring, a sapphire ring and necklace and then there was the turquoise craze coming along and she got that as well. He had to be careful, I wouldn't let him buy really expensive stuff and so he carefully chose little stones etc:. I think her favorite thing from him was the watch like the one he wore she got for her 16th birthday. One year when he had things made for Lisa, he also had a lace dress -pink- and a reversable leopard print coat, black maryjane style shoes and little socks with matching lace tops and a purse and muff to go with the outfit. If anything she was well dressed that year! He sent her a party dress when she was 7-black velvet bodice, white crepe, skirt with crinolines under it and of course, shiney black shoes too, necklace and bracelet and of course a ring to match.
She loved that outfit-well anything he sent she loved-and it was difficult to keep her feet on the ground... We sometimes went around and around over NOT letting him know she needed or wanted anything. It didn't always work...I returned a few things to make my point to both of them-and he pouted. So did she. I fully could see what Priscilla was dealing with-he was a hard sell when it came to buying gifts for anyone-his own kid must have really been a problem for him. He was wanting Julie (Starla she wanted to be called by then) to come back to visit at Graceland in l976-77-he was asking if she'd like to because Lisa would be there and he wanted them to be friends...which I thought was nice but a bit odd since my daughter was so much older-but that was Elvis-age didn't matter-and he wanted to get to know Julie better-she was always Julie to him-he wanted to have her stay there and he'd be there too and he said he would come get her if we would let her come. I never told her much about it-he asked her if she'd like to visit and she was considering it. I am glad it didn't work out- but she regrets not taking him up on it-she was on a soccer team and they were winning-she wanted to wait until the season was over as they were going into late games since they were in the run off and they were the District Champions in the end. Elvis was tickled about that-even though he said it was too rough a sport for a little girl. Suzy went to the games , I couldn't stand seeing her take nose dives etc; and told him about Julie playing dirty and he and her laughed. He was proud of her-and of course sent her a nice gift too.
Still, she wishes she had quit and gone to be with him and Lisa even though it would have been awful for her as it turned out. I think she might still believe that if she had been there, she might could have "saved him" some how. Hardly think that would have helped, but we all tend to think that, I guess. wjh

[maia]

So Starla would have been at Graceland in August of 1977?

[Wanda June Hill]

She could have been and that would have been awful...
for her. I am so glad that she chose to play soccer-she was so upset though, cried alot and finally said maybe if she had been there she could have done something...it was a hard thing for a 16 year old kid to deal with. She thought about it alot and couldn't let her team down as she was one of the better (mean) players on the team.
He knew her team were the district champs that was August 3 or 4 th I think, and he was going to send her some fancy spoke rims for her MGM on top of giving her the watch like his. He called me to tell me about the rims and said he didn't want me sending them back "as too expensive a gift" because after all he was "family" and he wanted to give his little niece some nice rims for her car and was talking about having it painted for her too and a new top as her top wasn't in good shape. He kept waiting for her to come in from Burger King where she worked but finally he had to go play with Lisa and said he'd like it if Julie could come stay even a week so she could meet Lisa- Now I wonder if he wanted them to meet because he wanted Lisa to have a connection with "regular people" that he knew? Starla didn't see him as I did, he talked to her but she didn't get to go see him personally since she was much younger and he saw her at the concerts that last time around-winked at her and grinned and did Jailhouse Rock and looked at her while singing it and then when he ended it and she stood up clapping so he would know she liked it and knew it was for her. He walked right to the stage edge then and looked down at her with a big grin then turned back and began America The Beautiful and of course got the standing ovation and was so cute and shy about it. Lisa was at that show too-sitting about 4 rows to the side and behind Starla and her friends. Elvis also played to Lisa but was not obvious about it, not wanting people to know she was seated there. She was standing up on the seat most of the time... especially after the people started standing to see better also. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

It is wonderful that Elvis thought of you and your family as his family also and he was so sweet and kind. Do think, also, however, it would have been awful if Starla would have been there are Graceland in August of '77, am sure, yes, that all of us feel like we would have loved just the chance of being able to help and/or save Elvis even though, in reality, it probably would not have done any good but I guess, somehow, we need to believe that we could have done something?

Had Starla being there, with only being sixteen though, would have been so hard for her to deal with. She couldn't have done anything as no-one else could, I know that's sad and not really helpful or comforting but it's true, the way it was.