Yes, I think he felt very vulnerable emotionally. This is why it was such a saving grace that he had people like Wanda and Grandma Suzie in his life.

Hi, he always said laughter made things easier for everyone, and if we could just look at things in that way, they would be lighter and less bothersome. I have trouble doing that myself, but he's right. I've learned to laugh at trials and just say, they will all work out, whatever it takes, everything will be just fine. I say the money will come, if I need extra money and it usually always does, sometimes in totally unexpected ways. My husband, now that he's retired and home, has been a bit surprised how that works, and after a couple of years he's beginning to think it works pretty well. We don't have alot of money being retired though we are not doing without, just need to plan and prepare when we need something that is expensive just like most people these days. We're lucky that we have a place to live and it's way out and we aren't crowed by people, though it's getting that way gradually. We still have land around us that we own so they can't get really close ever. So we think of ourselves as very lucky, very blessed. I don't know how Elvis managed to stay so even keeled, to smile as he did, to find joy in what he did even when he felt bad. He said he felt "alive on stage", "that's where I belong, what I'm here for. To bring happiness and joy to these people." And he meant it. Nothing else mattered as far as himself personally, as long as he could sing and entertain. Of course his family came first-as much as possible, but they did stand aside for his career and he knew it. Expected it and also hated it at times, when he would rather have been home instead of making those stupid movies...yet, it was in his blood to entertain-and he did it so well. I can't be sad for him when I remember how happy he was on stage most of the time anyway. How truly beautiful he would be walking out there, shining all over-head to toe. That light came from inside him-he called it "glory" and it came from his spirit and heart. He said, "I don't know what I do-it just wells up in me and comes out on it's own-everything in me just comes out-and it feels so right." WJH

To say that I haven't learned a lot from this man of ours would be a lie. I, in the past, used to get very angry and sad if something didn't go right. I am learning now that bad things will pass--and that you have to look on the bright side of things and it will turn around for you. I refer to the six-page letter he composed a lot. It is my "guide." I refer to it whenever i'm feeling down and need guidance.

I recently got into an accident--last week. It is my second accident in 7 months--both of them weren't my fault. First accident was worse than the second one--woman ran out in front of me and totalled my car--but I made it though it all and life must go on. I even found some humor in the one from last week---I would like my next car to be tank. I am getting tired of being hit.

I thank Elvis for being the wonderful and beautiful person that he was. He is such an inspiration and a great teacher to us all. I am very proud to be a big fan of his.

Sincerely,
Victoria

Hi Victoria,

I'm so glad you are okay! It can be horrible just to witness an accident-I can't imagine being in two of them so close together! And you made it! An angel is on your shoulder for sure! I know Elvis would be happy to know that his "letter" is helping other people. He said that as he wrote it-maybe it would-and apparently, even now, so many years later it is. It makes me so happy that I did let Maia have it-it set in my safe all these years and now, maybe it was the right time for it to be "released", set free to do his work. I don't know...so long I didn't do anything, keep up with anything related and now here it is back again and maybe it's just that it's time. Thank goodness for people like yourself out there who are willing to learn, to check it out and then say what they think so graciously and honestly. May your angels always stand at the ready. Wjh

Wanda,

You said that his family stood aside for his career. Can you comfirm that Priscilla was jealous of the relationship he had with his audience? In 'Elvis by the Presleys' she says that 'it was like a love affair'.

She says something like 'he gave them what they wanted and they told him what he wanted to hear'.
Do you have any comments on this?

Hi, I can't confirm anything for absolute fact-since I am not the person involved or the person themselves. I can only say that his career took him away physically as well as emotionally and he was "in love" with the feeling he received while on stage from his audience. He said it was the greatest high, and it filled him up inside, heart and soul and he loved making people happy. I think it would be very difficult to be a woman/wife or anyone else, and try to compete with that kind of thing. He had his career before Priscilla, he lived a lot before she came into his life and she couldn't really appreciate those days-when she knew him he was making movies, home at night, working days, more "normal" if that's possible in that business, and then suddenly, they had a baby, and he returned to his career full blast-it ate him up in every way possible, he still loved and needed family ties, but that career was a huge overwhelming thing that occupied his attention, time, emotional energy and his very life...it was tough on her and on him too, because underneath that "Elvis thing" was the man/boy who had a big heart and wanted so much to please and make people/family proud of him. He didn't have much choice in his life, after that career grabbed hold with all that came with it, in people, money, etc: it was not anything that he could control-it was too big-toomuch money to be made by too many people. It was fate I guess, he thought so, but I can't begin to say or confirm how anyone truly felt. I can only speak of what I know, saw, heard from the source and the rest is up to the others who also saw and heard and lived it-I barely touched the edges-and I just talked with him as a friend-let him get things off his mind, but I didn't try to tell him what to do or even suggest things, unless he asked which wasn't all that often. He just needed to talk-to hear himself say things-it's one thing to think and worry and totally different to hear the words come out that your thinking. Sometimes it gives a whole new perspective to the problem and that's what I think was what he needed-and he didnt want to say them to the people he lived with because they were involved-he had to face them daily, he wanted someone outside, not connected and who wouldn't judge or yes him as he might get from others who were there with him. I don't know-I have given up trying to figure out the why me thing. I do not know-some day, it will all be made clear. WJH