(Left out of interview 2006 ( Introvert Elvis, 1977). - new to Face to Face)

Wanda: So…what type personality do you think you are-I mean just the guy, not the entertainer image?
Elvis: Lord…. well, eh I guess, eh I know---- I ‘m an introvert; bet you never expected to hear that- (Laughs)
Wanda: Really…doing what you have done and so well, it is a surprise to hear you say it- though it isn’t that odd, you know. I’ve read that most entertainers actually are introverts off stage-preferring to be in small groups or alone a good deal when not on stage –even business people who run about the country giving talks and so forth…they are usually introverted types too.
Elvis: Really…well, then guess I’m in …eh good company. Ya know, people say it ain’t so if I say it to-to most of them, people who spend time around me, studio and an’ all that really, …they don’t think I fit that eh, slot or whatcha call it ‘cause you know, can’t say ‘um the quietest of the bunch, really. (Snickers)
Wanda: Is it because you feel kind of odd if things get too quiet maybe?
Elvis: Ummmm… like bein’ on display or somethin’ you mean? Yeah…do.
Wanda: It is hard not to look at you….
Elvis: What…
Wanda: It’s hard not to watch you; I mean that in a good way Elvis. People like to look at you, to watch you smile; they want to hear everything you say, too. It’s just something that is-I’m not sure of the right word here- compelling maybe, something compelling about you. So we---see I include me too. We all like to look at you, be around and watch and hear you.
Elvis: Weird man, to hear you sayin’ that really- I mean, bein’ as how eh…eh… compelling…guess that’s better’n bein’ some kind of squirrel un ever body wantin’ a shot at-huh? (Snickers) Or is it? What exactly does that mean, really?
Wanda: Like a…force…something that draws other things to it…like magnetic energy I think, like you have, everyone has, some more than others- like you…I mean that in strictly a good way, it’s nothing for you to feel strange about or even wonder at Elvis. You were born to do and be who you are-it’s like a special gift and you wear it well.
Elvis: Oh… a gift…gawd I been given so many of them “gifts”… wonder they don’t weight me down, like a an anvil around ma neck! (Said comically) Serious though, I know people eh, like lookin’ at at me…an’ wantin to touch me ya know; when I was younger they kinda did then, only not like-like now. Then when I got so could dress ma self, buy stuff you know, did it to be different-lord, guess just wanted to to be noticed or somethin’. Not jus’ a-a post or somethin’ like that, really.
Wanda: Don’t you think that came from being from the wrong side of town, not having some of the things other kids had and feeling like they looked down on you? It wasn’t so much that you wanted to be noticed in a stuck up way, it was just to be visible. Right?
Elvis: Visible… maybe so. Sometimes felt like wasn’t even takin’ up space I was standin’ in…in school an’ other places. Just that Presley kid…he’s nothin’ buta hick, not goin’ to ‘mount to nothin’ so why bother, ya know?
Wanda: Well, bet you a dollar they know different now!
Elvis: (Laughs) Ain’t it a kick! Gawd, love it, jus’ love it! Still can’t afford to get too big for ma britches… ever time do get ma ass kicked seems like. Took me a while but I got that lesson learnt good! (Snickers softly then becomes serious again.) You like lookin’ at me huh? Any special reason or –or somethin’ that that did it? Ma face, clothes-what? Really? (Asked in that “personal” warm voice he seldom used in talking with me).
Wanda: Your face, eyes and the smile that lights up everything around it-do you realize that you have a smile that shines like a light from your eyes and your face? It absolutely touches people and brightens the space around you -and them. I am not kidding or saying this to flatter you. It just so happens that you are one of those people-other people, some men and some women have that ability-but they are far between and very few. You really belong to an elite group buddy. Not just because you’re an entertainer--- and Elvis either.
Elvis: Really…. I hated havin’ to pose so much for pictures-publicity shots on account of they’d keep sayin’ come on Presley, turn it on! We don’t have all day here! An’ I’d try but sometimes nothin’ would would work…I need inspiration…
Wanda: We like to see you happy, and enjoying yourself with friends because it’s just spontaneous-and on stage sometimes, most of the time in fact, it’s there bigger than ever.
Elvis: Really, tha's...thats good to know. I try to to make ‘em feel what I do up there…joy ‘an fun…it’s fun for me. More’n fun, it lets me open up an’ be me…do what I love to do… Gawd…. Don’t want to talk ‘bout this anymore okay? I got to work soon an’ ‘um gonna get all tied up tryin’ to be natural or somethin’ if it’s in ma head. Lord!
Wanda: Okay… so tell me about what Lisa thought going with you New Years-that was really late for her-and it was so cold!
Elvis: Yeah! She said, “Liked to froze ma ass off in that damn place-but it was so fun!
Wanda: Talks like her father a bit, huh?
Elvis: (Laughs loudly, then snickers) Little bit…maybe…(Snickers again.) She wants to keep goin’ with me now she’s old enough she says; trouble with that is she’s old enough to see ‘n hear too much, ya know. So have to watch ma self an’ make sure she don’t see things she don’t need to see-the fans an’ such ya know. Sometimes get some crazies goin’ off. So pull her outta there quick an’ then I go.
Wanda: I just bet she loves every second of it and then to be with her daddy afterward too, well, she’s hooked!
Elvis: Yeah…. thank God; she –she kinda understands like she’s a little ol’ lady in a little bitty girl’s body sometimes…scary ya know, really.
Wanda: I’ve experienced that with ours-it’s just one of those little perks we parents get to have. I bet she runs around waiting on you too-huh daddy?
Elvis: Yeah (Snickers softly) It is a perk, isn’t it, like seein’ it all for the first time kinda, I mean it feels so good; gawd I’d like to have a dozen kids jus’ so I could be ‘round ‘em an’ enjoy how-how they eh, think ‘bout life an’ all that. Seein’ it through pure hearts and eyes, it’s it’s emotional sometimes, really.
Wanda: And educational.
Elvis: Man that’s fer sure! She’s teachin’ me things I – I never even thought 'bout at that age…maybe never, really..
Wanda: Can she remember way back to being a little tyke?
Elvis: She remembers getting a bath in the sink after I let her play with the hose in the yard ‘n she got all muddy, pullin’ up the grass an throwin’ it at me…then had to hurry an’ clean her up fore her momma got back. (Laughs) Almost got it done but the sink told on us! (Giggles) Me ‘n Lisa’d get in trouble all time when it was jus’ us- we had fun.”
Wanda: I bet her mommy didn’t really get mad about it, she used to be a little girl too and we like to get dirty- just like the boys.
Elvis: Yeah, but she kinda liked her doin’ girl things an’ I’m all time teachin’ her boy stuff she said; but heck, that’s what I know an’ Lisa loved playin’ with me. Cilla used to play football ‘n get dirty an’ we’d laugh all the time. She understands, it’s jus’ kinda like we got one child ‘n that child don’t get to spend as much time with me as maybe she’d like so when I’m home she’s kinda wantin’ to be right there at my knee. I guess may be it’s a natural thing that-that a mommy might be a little bit jealous of at times ‘n it’s okay.
Wanda: I’m sure it is Elvis, don’t even let it bother you.
Elvis: That’s what Ginger said, she’s pretty wise for her age, maybe cause she had sisters an’ brothers… something I didn’t have, ya know. Not really…
Wanda: So what is the earliest memory you have that you can say.
Elvis: (Snickers) I can say… eh… ‘bout 3 an' half years old. I got sick just before was two, ‘n ever body tells me now I liked to died, so can’t remember much then…we were, momma an’ me went to town an’ I had to walk on account of her bringin’ some stuff with us. guess I was really tired an’ couldn’t keep up very good an’ this car came by fast an’ dirt was blowin’ in ma face…Somethin’ was in ma eyes an’ I was pullin’ away 'n stumblin' cause I couldn’t see. Momma was getting kinda upset on account of we were gonna be late…’n she slapped me cause she thought I jus’ didn’t want to go an’ I didn’t really, rather stayed home an’ played with friends. Anyway, we got on to town an’ I was cryin’, my eyes hurt an’ wouldn’t quit cryin’ ya know. Then there was a couple women came up an asked her why she wasn’t takin’ care of her child-me-see an they was sayin’ somethin’ bout how dirty my face was an’ my clothes an’ the lady told her to bring me over to some place near by an’ she was gonna give her some clothes for me. Momma was sayin’ thank you and all, but she wasn’t herself an’ I knew it. I got scared cause she was holdin’ me so tight to her legs an I’m hangin’ on her too. They was sayin’ they’d watch me while she sold the stuff she had, don’t know what the hell it was now. Jus’ thought they was gonna take me away from her. Some how I thought she thought it too, really. Anyway, the lady store keeper came up an started talkin’ an’ it all was okay and momma took me back to wash my face an’ she saw then that my eyes were all red an somethin’ was in both eyes an’ she washed it out. It was dirt, little gravel things kinda I guess. Anyway, I remember that day well on account of they was goin’ to take me from her an’ daddy’d already gone, they took him away so I was real scared. So that’s the first thing I think I can remember, really-little stuff but that one stayed full, you know. It stuck. Except can’t remember what she was sellin’ to the store now-maybe some vegetables…she had a garden an’ we ate off it way up to the fall. We stayed in a little house-a shed really for a few weeks – an' it was late fall 'n gettin’ cold and startin’ to rain an’ it leaked so we moved to ma cousin’s an’ we all fit were ever we could cause they had a little house too. Was a rough year…but got through it…’n daddy come home an’ we couldn’t wait to get a place but it was a while…then he couldn’t find no work really so we moved in a few years…I was bout 12 or so gone be 13 ‘n ma whole world changed again…really. Damn glad it did too! (Laughs)
Wanda: Mysterious ways, right.
Elvis: Yeah!
Wanda: Did you like school in Memphis?
Elvis: No, no didn’t. Didn’t know any body, ‘n man, was shy ya know, didn’t talk like most of ‘em an all, didn’t fit in, really. Then didn’t have clothes like most of ‘em. In Tupelo fit in more but Memphis was a big place, growin’ an’ people had things…we didn’t have nothin’ really. I was growin’ fast, couldn’t keep me in clothes an’ sometimes the church would bring some by ‘n if she could, she’d fix things so I could wear ‘em. Then we had a little money an’ went to the thrift store down town an’ that’s where I found ma clothes after that! There was some good stuff there-nothin’ wrong with most of it, just they was some body got tired of it ya know, so man, that was my store! Really. (Laughs) I was dressin’ good after that, when I had some money.
Wanda: You always worked didn’t you?
Elvis: Seems like I was always lookin’ for work-even now! (Laughs) Yeah, had a job most of the time, sometimes two so I’d have some money for things…give most of it to momma an’ then have a little to spend on me. Hell, I liked clothes…still do man. Liked lookin’ sharp…
Wanda: Cool….
Elvis: Huh?
Wanda: You liked looking cool….huh?
Elvis: (Snickers) Uh-huh….still do.
Wanda: Really…. (We both laugh, he giggles and I have to laugh at him.)
Elvis: Lord-Lord…(a male voice calls his name) Yeah! In here- what is it now? (Sounds gruff)

(Had to end this here as someone told him he had to get ready to do something or other-didn’t catch what it was but he grumbled and complained and then Ginger came to help him get dressed-or so he said. I heard a woman's very sweet sounding voice in the background asking if he wanted to wear whatever it was. Couldn’t make it out. He said yes. A man’s voice spoke up and said he had to call someone but I couldn’t make it out either and Elvis said bye-bye and hung up.)

Thanks Laurie, I hope that I can figure out how to post things with this new program soon. I've been practicing but so far I can't move by cutting, pasting or inserting anything! And on the e-mails links do not show up blue or as "links" and so don't work when clicked on. I haven't found anything about that either -must be something to change the setting for but I haven't had time to really work on it. We've been busy around here; Suzy's birthday parties, etc: and Starla got one of those electronic picture frames that you can program digital photo's in and then they can be set to run like slide shows and it's great. It took some time finding pictures to copy and taking new ones. She had a big party for her 95th birthday and her family set up screens with all her early day photos from childhood and they had it out a gain and so Starla copied many of those to run on the photo frame-a mini life story for her plus Foxx and things hes done and she was there for and then of course her family members and her # 3 son, her middle boy, Elvis has lots of photos on it too, mostly smiling happy ones and concert photos where she was there. One picture of me at stage edge handing him an Avon Bold Eagle and right beside me is Suzy gazing up at him. He gave her a scarf and called her "my Baby" when she told him she loved him. He said < I love you too, my baby" and our friend the photographer got a beautiful photo of him looking at her and smiling-it's on there too. Starla thought having these photos running might help her get her memories back-she could recall each photo when she looked at them. So it ought to help her alot.
Anyway, Thanks Laurie, for some reason I like that piece-now I can't recall why I didn't use it-maybe because of the great length of what I did use as I cut out quite a lot of "minor" things or those that seemed to duplicate themselves in some way. Separate it makes one think about what he felt and thought and I guess I like it because he let the real guy come out more than usually. Reading between the lines, maybe his feelings show. And Lisa's comment-she is a "chip off the old block". wjh

I agree with the appreciation Sue made above, both for Laurie helping Wanda to post that great and revealing conversation and for Wanda's news.

I especially welcome anything that keeps us updated with how is Suzy doing. Wanda: I loved the idea you and Starla had as a present for her 95 th birthday! When you go to visit her a next time, please take to her my congratulations and best wishes.

Dear Wanda, would it be possible to have some of these photos of you and Suzy close to Elvis in a concert posted here. I think I talk in the name of AAAALL of us when asking this. Please.

Well Amanda, you get your wish! Starla took photos of some of her things from Elvis, a couple of letters she got from him including one that I had never heard about or seen until now-they will be on ELC as Maia will include them in the gallery on my site. Also there is the photo of me handing Elvis the Eagle, Suzy is right beside me and you can see her face and Joanna is behind us-you only see her hair from the back. It's not a high quality photo as the lighting was very bright on Elvis of course but you can see him plainly reaching for the Eagle that I am holding up...and Suzy's face side view clearly as well. We were lucky to even get that photo! We also have a photo of Rachel who wrote a story in our book telling about him saying he would do the show she was coming to just for her as a thank you for something shared between them. She worked for a heart specialist at the time. He kissed ONLY her that night, he had to lay on the stage on his belly to reach her but he did it. And the photo is perfect. I don't think she'd mind if it was put on ELC but will try to contact her for permission. I wish she would post but I don't know if she has a computer or works where one is any more. Been a while since we talked but she did come down for one of Suzy's parties-I wasn't there but Starla was and got the photos for her picture frame. Those things are very nice!
Anyway, pretty soon the photo of us three will be up.
Thank you asking. wjh

that's geat! can't wait for the pictures!

And thank you blue moon for typing this conversation up!

Love, Raina

THANK YOU WANDA, AND STARLA TOO!!

I'll be keeping an eye to see all that you announce, appearing magically... It's great, so fine and I'm so glad...!

AMEN to everything you've said above my dear friend!!



Yet again I say a BIG AMEN!!!

I kind of had a dream last night, it wasn't so much about Elvis as it was reviewing things in my head I guess because I have been pouring through so much and trying to work on this book to get all I can in it and right as possible. Anyway, I was kind of as if "hearing" him talking about school days and how he wanted to quit highschool to get a full time job and work over time etc; and that he had a job working at night, he wasn't old enough for it, but he borrowed ID I guess, right now don't know if that was the case, so he actually lied about his age to work there. I think it was some kind of manufacturing place or machinery place but don't know what exactly. Anyway, he was so determined to quit school in his l0th year too, in order to work and make money-he said it was more than any of them had made before but his mother told him he had to finish school, she wanted him to graduate and that he was her hope and glory and she wanted to see him graduate and be somebody important in life. He said he fussed and carried on but she wouldn't budge and finally made him promise he wouldn't quit. There were many times when he left school and was ready to never go back for one reason or another, but he ended up always going back because he had "promised momma I'd graduate" and "if it killed me, wasn't gonna break my promise an' her heart." So he stuck it out, slept in classes, skipped some, had some girl friends who helped him with homework a few times, (did if for me, he said) and he made it through. He kept working when he could but he got caught at the plant and lost his job-I guess they found out he wasn't old enough ???
And too, he was sleeping in school and a teacher told his mom so she might have got him fired since he wouldn't quit even when she told him he should. I could see a mom doing that for her kid-even him! Anyway he got another job that let him work afternoons and evenings...I guess at the movie house maybe that was then. He liked it because he could see all the "fims" and meet the girls who came in-he said it was then he realized that girls liked him, the way he looked etc: and it helped to build his confidence working there. He got fired for giving candy to one of them I guess-but he said it wasn't him, it was the other guy coverin'g his butt accusing him...so I don't know if that's it but he did get fired. He said he was fired from a few jobs before for one reason or another...usually because he was "daydreamin' too much" an somebody caught him not keeping busy. Once he said he was fired because a woman said he "was starin' at her" and she got "scared". He laughed like a silly thing telling me that one! I remember saying, were you staring at her like a degenerate? He busted up and said, "No, no -she was just wearin' a see through dress an' I noticed, that's all. She was lookin' for a way to cause trouble..an' found one. Guess it got her attention she needed or somethin'". I liked the way he always seemed to come up with an excuse for human behavior-I sure find it hard to do that myself. wjh

I can see how pouring over Elvis' history would cause you to dream about it, but wow your dream was quite detailed -- and interesting too that it was as if Elvis was speaking it.

WOW, Wanda!

I can't tell what's real and what's dream...! It's fantastic...!

Me EITHER! I just woke up at 3:45 am and that is what I was thinking about -it was like a dream I thought because it was going on when I was waking up. I wanted to sleep, had been up the night before off and on and wide awake-then was really tired as did alot of clean up stuff with the horse's pens after the rain, raking up dirt etc: so it would all dry quickly.
Anyway I conked off to sleep before the first gospel song was finished-Jimmie turns it on when he goes to bed every nite so I sleep "with Elvis" music in my ears! Anyway, it's turned as low as I can and have him still be able to hear it-it's right by his head almost! Anyway, I woke up so early, couldn't sleep for thinking so I got up and thought with a cup of peppermint tea and me and the dog and cats sat in the simi darkness together. If I turn on a light the horses start banging around their feeders and the designated begger, the oldest one of ours Moon, starts yelling at us for breakfast. Actually, it's either the newest horse to arrive who is the nominated begger or the oldest of the regulars who do it. They decide among them, I guess?
So I just typed up my thoughts while they were "current" in mind. It's not new to me, just kind of like it was "revisited" in sleeping? Heck I don't know-I mean, I'm the one who has missing "pages" from teenage times! Why don't they "revisit"? Maybe the brain has some kind of method of "storing" what's revelant and beneficial at the time? As EP would say, "Man, that's weird, isn't it!" wjh

I loved the piece of talking to him about Lisa.

Seems to me that Pris sometimes was jealous about their special bond

Just a remark I made, because of the many many things I heard over the years .... you know.

As Sue said above, "not to oppose you for the sake of it of course", but I would like to comment that my daughter, from the very first months of life (and I mean from 6 months on), was absolutely "in love" with her father, as his father was with her. She had not eyes for anyone else when she was a child.

They developed a close relationship 'till the day he died, 5 years ago. (She is 44 now). I felt proud of the love they shared and I witnessed. Now, she and I have a very deep bond, sharing much of our spiritual journey.

I believe this kind of links between father and daughter are frequent and jealousy is not always present, because the mother knows the good a great communication means for a little girl and her daddy.

Of course, what might appear there is "fear". The mother, if insecure, might be afraid of not being loved enough by the child and of loosing contact with her. But that emotion has nothing to do with jealousy. It comes closer to the fear to not be able to be a good mother.

Jealousy is a much more negative emotion and I think, much less commun in such circunstances.

won't go into detail, I will respect the nature of the forum.

sorry for posting