date: 1972
subject: Something To Live For

Elvis: You know, it's strange how-how things turn out. I mean, a few months ago I thought-I thought there wasw no reason for me to try any longer-I thought it-it-my life was finished. Here I was 37 years old and nothing was left. My career was kinda dead, I didn't have a family anymore and didn't give a damn if I ever sang another note or not and-and hell, there was no use trying to make a film 'cause nobody'd give me a second thought-in the business, you know.

But then comes Mr. Schopel with the satillite show idea-had backers and everything and it scared the living hell outa me. I tell you, the thought damn near stopped my heart! I kid you not-it was a frightening thought.

Man, that's alot of people! The WORLD man, think about that! And who am I? Nobody-just a singer who isn't even that good a singer, man-I'm not a good singer-I get by but hell, let's face it-perfect I'm not. I make mistakes--

Wanda: God-HE makes mistakes! Can I stand it?

Elvis: Oh shut up damn it! You know what I mean!

Wanda: Yeah, go on.

Elvis: Anyway, I got something to do now--something to think of and to plan for-it's-it's nice. I think I-I'll make it now. (laughs)

Yes, his humility was extraordinary. Elvis did a birthday tape for Wanda, per her request (he asked her what she wanted for her birthday) of him playing the organ. He plays the heck out of it...everything from what Wanda calls "roller skating music" to boogie. Toward the end of the tape, Elvis stops for a moment and says, "I don't play too well, but I try." When I first heard this I thought, "Is he kidding?" But playing it over and over I realized that he was SERIOUS!

A few years after Elvis' death I saw this cartoon in the newspaper that so reminded me of Elvis. First you see two daisies popping up from the ground (SPROING!) Then a heart-shaped, red flower springs up between them. One daisy says to the other, "Look, a heart-shaped flower!" Immediantly the heart-shaped flower spins it's head around, looking behind it saying, "WHERE?"

I thought of HIM right away!

I have an opinion about Ego:

I think that one needs a very strong Ego to evolve, for Ego sustains the Will power. In first stages of developing, we are submitted by it. In later stages, we submit Ego to our deeds, using it as a vehicle, transcending its primitive pulsion. Let's say that then, the Ego becomes our ally, not our boss. Then, we use Ego on a different level, a higher one.

Observing Elvis developing, it shows perfectly. (Do you observe how I love to make an estatement? It comes from my father and, besides, I do have a strong Ego too. )

Thanks for that, never thought about it as in that way before. Elvis started out "ugly" he said, then he got a "little better" but took a while to grow into his nose and mouth, and he thought he looked better when he lost his "baby fat" and was thinner-had less jowl and photographed well. He critized himself I think because of Hollywood's standards and he was told so many things about this or that-which side photographed better, how to hide flaws-etc: and it stuck hard to a shy, insecure young boy that he was at the time. Then he got the "big head" he said when he was the "hottest thing going" in 56-57-58 and his mom sat him down and told him he wasn't. He didn't say how she did that-but he got the message. She was always telling him not to get to "big for his britches" and "not to think he was so much he couldn't be knocked down" etc: and every time he wanted something important it seemed to sllip out of his reach so he thought maybe she was right. He said when he looked into the mirror he didn't see Elvis Presley, he saw this kid that came from nothing, then made something of himself and had this big picture plasterd over what he really was beneath it all. It was all just press releases, inaccurate and expanded upon until the real person didnt' exist except in his own mind-I can't recall his exact words except for these-and they aren't in order-somewhere I have that-maybe in Face to Face in his words. He thought he looked the best he ever did in King Creole-and Flaming Star. He didn't like how he looked in That's The Way-can you beleive that!!!! He thought he was too thin, too skinny and looked like he was going to be some kind of model or something. He thought he looked better in the outfit he wore when he did the Big Boss Man routine...at least he didn't look like he'd been starved for months. To everyone else and
Face wise, he looked fantastic but he wasn't looking at his face-it was his body he didn't like. He said with his clothes off he looked like a "livin' skeleton or somethin' about to be one". He did have knobby knees I told him-and he laughed. He said he couldn't even get in that black leather outfit or the clothes he wore in TTWIS -it was about the 73 or so when he was going over things in the past and being very critical of himself. wjh

Wanda, here you certainly signaled an interesting point that could explain why she often "knocked down" Elvis, while he was a child. Following that trend, I'm sure Elvis was an special child, and some people could feel it. Even himself, maybe. She started teaching him -in a very hard way, indeed- at an early stage of his life, something that would be very usefull in his future, having to confront FAME as he did.

A second thought:

If he would have to live a more commun life, it could have broken his Ego hardly. But the great love he received from millions of people, equilibrated the balance. So, all this was very useful for him. He got just the right portion of punishment for his Ego, to be able to manage fame and do his function on Earth.

Barb, I found Elvis very sexy in "Elvis on tour" -1972, specially in the light blue jumpsuit. But I love his looks in "Change of Habit" too. I like his calmness there. Besides, in one scene, while holding tight the little girl he is reducing, called Amanda, he says so, so sweetly: "Love you, Amanda".
What else can I say......?

Yes, Sue.

I like very much to see him in "Change of Habit" for his looks there, but mostly because a side of him shows more clearly than in some other movies: that of being himself, calm, loving-caring, centered, reflexive and "connected".

"Change of Habit" is one of my favorite movies as well, for the reasons you so elequently mentioned Amanda in the above quote, and also Sue for what you said about it being more of a dramatic role for him. Great close-ups too; good acting, and it was good for him to end his fictional movie career with something other than a teeny bopper type movie. And I like the funky Rubberneckin' song.

I got one or some to, my Jaw is Crooked, my Hair is Dyed and My Teeth are Capped. I just don't see it! Bless his Gorgeous Sweet Lovin' Silly Man that he is!

Bringing this back around! The most endearing side to Elvis, to me, is that he always acknowledged the Lord had brought him all his talent and everything, Elvis believed in giving the Lord back what was His too! Elvis' humility is truly precious!

Yes Elvis Knew where all of his Talent and Everything he was Blessed with, and he always Gave God The Glory!

AMEN!!