Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Wanda June Hill]

From the 1060's (movie days) Just for fun stuff...

Wanda: You like to read a lot don't you? What kind do you like best?
Elvis: Novels... eh, just read...well, I'm readin' one, about Napoleon... I'll give it to you when I'm done-
Wanda: Napoleon? Bonaparte?
Elvis: yeah-it's great! About his love-the love of his life-a true account too... Donna gave it to me... (I think it was Donna Douglas at that time.)
Wanda: Are you going to see Donna any more?
Elvis: No- jus' around town or studios, maybe. She's-she's nice an' all, but we aren't...aren't the same type people. You know, she's a friend...like you 'n me- kinda.
I can talk to her 'n she don't come on to me, you know.
'n that's nice. I like her 'cause she treats me- well, like regular people, like you do. understand?
Wanda: Sure, she's a friend. you don't have to explain all that- I know what you mean by she's a friend.
Elvis: Oh-well, used to havin' to explain why I'm not fu...
eh...makin' out with her - whomever. Sorry, it's jus' a natural thing for me to to explain.
Wanda: Okay, thanks for cleaning up the phrase for me.
Elvis: Uh-huh-yeah (Giggles, then says f.... you under his breath but so he knows I'll hear him.)
Wanda: Once a smart alec always one, huh Elvis?
Elvis: (Laughs-then starts coughing) Excuse me for coughing in your ear, but damn it, this is hell! (Has a bad cough and chest congestion)
Wanda: Have you tried steaming yourself in the shower and coughing it all out?
Elvis: What? (Coughing and choking)
Wanda: Get in the shower, run the hot water to make steam then breathe the moist hot air and try to cough it out.
Elvis: Oh yeah-some. But (Coughing fit, swears, saying some pretty funny but dirty things as he's coughing but away from the receiver.)
Wanda: Elvis? (He is very quiet suddenly)
Elvis: Uhmmmm jus' a minute, gonna spray my lungs with this stuff...
(comes back to the phone after a few seconds) NOW! I can breathe! Whew....
Wanda: What did you use? (He sounds great)
Elvis: Some stuff the doctor gave me-works good-got some kind of stimulate in it. Makes me feel real good for a few minutes- wears off fast though. Makes me wanna get laid ever time I use it. (he says very matter of factly)
Wanda: Well! You better find out what that is then!
Elvis: (Giggles) Yeah! No-really, it does, but it can only be used about four times in twenty-four hours. It'll congest your lungs worse if it's over done. Causes side reactions when it wears off- I use it when I'm gonna work...jus' before a scene, so's I don't cough and blow lines...'n that's all on account of I don't want any side affects.

**************
(A few days later...he's still sick and running a fever and is finishing up Frankie and Johnny)

W: Did you take the antibotics until they were all gone?
Or just quit because you were feeling better?
E: yeah...No... but I did since... took them all, didn't do a damn thing really. Killed my appetite is all...
W: You have to eat so your body can fight back.
E: I eat-god knows that- need to drop about 8 pounds.
W: Yeah-you eat-pizza, hamburgers and potatoe chips and what was that the other day- ice cream bars?
E: That's good for you-all of it! Besides I eat other stuff too-I do!
W: Okay, what vegetables have you had lately?
E: corn, beans and that green stuff-eh-that grows in a stem, you know?
W: Broccoli?
E: That's not it...it's eh-asparagus-that's it. I like that 'an corn.
W: What about broccoli, spinich and salads?
E: What's broccoli look like?
W: Green stems and little flower like green bulb heads-tastes kind of like califlower, but it's dark green and used in salads and cooked-usually steamed.
E: No-don't like that stuff-looks like somebody's brains gone bad or somethin'.
W: you're spoiled, that's all. To have your own way all the time. You need somebody to make you eat right.
E: Ain't no body big enough for that, if I don't wanna do it!
W: Here it comes now-MR. Presley, tough guy!
E: That's damn right woman! I eat what I like, do with what I like an' that's that.
W: Sure, you cough your head off, sneeze out what little brain you have left and burn yourself up with fever paying for it, too.
E: You tryin' to pick a fight with me or somethin'? I'm sick, you shouldn't do this. You ought to be tellin' me I'm sweet, n' handsome an' gonna be well real soon an' love me. I'm sick! (He pulls out the pouty little boy routine and we both laugh.)
W: Of course you are all of those things, and I do love you, but you're a bad boy too. For not taking care of yourself so you'll STAY handsome and sweet!
E: Huh- I will anyway. I'm Elvis Presley, by damn!
W: Oh boy!!! (Laughs)
E: (Giggles and laughs) Guess that shut you up!
W: Just fall off your bed, you smart aleck! So what are you going to do the rest of the day-besides cough and shiver?
E: I got some books-couple of novels 'n some poetry the guys brought me. Donna lent me some more books she had.
W: So are you going to keep in touch when it's all done?
E: Yeah-suppose so-we talk about the books an' all...when she has time an' I do, maybe.
W: Good... you need someone with whom you can relate and share things with.
E: yeah...it lets me go-freedom, you know. I can go into other worlds, take part in other lives...and an' learn, too- I like learning of how people live, think an' what they do. You know, it's something to free my mind, my thoughts. I plan a lot when I read-the future, you know.
W: I like reading too, to pass the time, and to learn.
E: Momma read- she used to read to me all the time...when there was time. An' she-she told me I could educate myself by reading. An' when I was seven or so, maybe a year of so older, we went to Memphis 'n took the bus she took me to see a doctor 'n then she took me to the library 'n it really shocked me- so many books! An' so pretty too-books, I mean. She got a bunch of fairytales 'n Mark Twain, an' all, 'n we read all winter. It was great- I was too sick to go to school that year much, so we read. I've always liked books since then.
W: What was wrong with you?
E: I-I-was jus' sick, nothin' really that I can say 'cept I was throwin' up when I'd eat an' runnin' a fever 'n weak and dizzy. They said I needed a tonic an' gave her this awful tastin' stuff. Then I got well- she started givin' me goat's milk an' I got well. I had to eat liver...gawddd I hate liver! But I got well-that was a good year. I liked bein' home with her, Daddy was gone-a lot-workin' out of town an' we had fun an' talked... She told me about her early days-childhood, you know. "n I told her all my-my dreams. We made plans... I was going to buy her a house an' all...it...it...was a good ...year. (He speaks so softly, going back, getting lost in a loving memory.)
W: You did Elvis, you bought her a beautful home-two of them! You can be proud and happy for that. I know she was proud of them... and of you, Elvis.
E: I know...she cried...sayin' they were so...so...beautiful... Goddd, it was just...jus' yesterday...you know...lord, lord.... (Sounds like he's about to break and I change the subject.)
W: So, Elvis, what's the title's of some of the books you got from Donna?
(He tells me he finished Napoleon and started to read Robert Frost's book of poetry...then recites a poem he liked about a tree....
(If you all like reading these little blurbs, like seeing how he could be on the phone-in real time life for those days-I have a few more- I am putting more things like these and probably these too, in Elvis- Face to Face, if you'd rather wait for that so will I. Your call. wjh)

[Lighthouseseeker]

I'm just thankful Wanda..how nice of you, that you're sharing those moments with us..

[Wanda June Hill]

I am thankful that I can do it. If not for Maia and Simeon and this website-wouldn't be possible and I couldn't help get the word out that I want out there. It seems that is my purpose- and I need to fulfill it. He gave me the key-I think he wanted me to use it. So what else can I do but try... I enjoy sharing him... there is so much that he didn't get to share...but he would have liked to do it and he did every chance he got. So why not- It really is something now- when I first came out with WR,E nearly 30 years ago (!) so many things I was saying had not been told by anyone and there was so many saying oh no, no way... but now things are coming out more and more- I just read the Larry King interview with Pris and there she is telling the world that the military got Elvis into taking Dexies to stay awake and then doctors got him into sleeping pills to go to sleep... And then in the Johnny Cash movie they implied Elvis was using stimulates but it was the other way around-he was using sleeping pills given to him by a famous singer who's name Elvis didn't want me to use though he told me. It was the first time he knew what it was to be able to "sleep like that"-and how he had been staying awake since being a child etc;.... I was floored that she even acknowledged the military's involvement though! Most people don't know that they still do that - still provide them for their troops. At least now they do try to control their use somewhat-you can't buy jars full over here like you could in Germany back then. wjh

[Lighthouseseeker]

well I'm afraid Army still use some kinda medication maybe worse than Dexies on soldiers today ,since the troops have to fight in different places and environtment..never know the details of course..
Anyway,I still do not agree on him being drafted..2 years been stolen from his short and important life for nothing.But maybe that was a part of a narrow minded plan, to slow down the effects of him on young people ..oh! me being paranoid again..

[Wanda June Hill]

Yeah, I agree. They were scared of Elvis in the 50's-he was doing something that would change the world as the older generation knew it-something that hadn't really been done except with Frank Sinatra and that was minor compared to Elvis' craze- By Elvis' time it didn't take long for things to get around the world-especially in the US we were getting tv and we had phones in every home and we had movie theatres and here was this guy exciting the teenagers who were going to rule the world in a few years! I can see the fear in those politicians faces! Those kids will be voting as adults-and they're getting POWER + because of "rock 'n roll" which was spelled Elvis back then! And look what it brought about-youth rules the world of just about every product sold now days- And it's not half bad either. Doesn't bother me any way, but back then! Oh boy. I heard about it in church nearly every Sunday and always on Thursday night youth meetings...Elvis was the devil's evil angel sent to ruin the young people of today-through it's females! Wow, back then I believed it too---at least I thought I did... in my mind I questioned, lots of things that we were being told- I just know that the first time I heard Elvis I didn't know who it was, or anything about him or that music- I had never heard a song sung like that-it made me cry to listen to that guy singing it-his voice-Heartbreak Hotel and I had sneaked the radio on low while doing dishes and my step mom and my dad were milking and feeding while I did dishes and cleaned the kitchen up. I wasn't allowed to hear the radio-just weather reports. And no tv either. No movies, nothing but church 3 or 4 times a week. My step mom got religion and went over board big time-but it was something to do and it got me away from the farm and I had friends there...some my age to talk to. I was an only child. I never forgot that song-but didn't know it was Elvis singing it until after I got out of highschool and went to work for my aunt who thought Elvis was super and so handsome. I heard him at her house-I saw him in the newspaper and he was in Tulsa and my aunt went and wanted to take me but I couldn't go-my folks said no way! Anyway, to make a long story short- I know about paranoia for sure! I have my thoughts on lots of things that happened to him- just can't prove it-yet. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

Many things are surely difficult to prove and is hard to know what was going on but sometimes certain situations such as Elvis going into the Army when he did sure does have a suspicious feel about it! But then maybe that is me just being paranoid too, just seems odd and a little bit too much of a coincidence!

And Wanda, being as you are the author, I feel it should be up to you as to what you want to share with us about your conversations with Elvis. However, anything you do share anytime with us is so great and just helps to make me feel that little bit closer to him as a person. I don't think I can really explain this properly but you make him that much more real, accessible, human and special for me - no, I can't really put it how I mean it, into words exactly, but you have given such a beautiful, real, true and balanced account of this wonderful man over within this Forum it really does mean just so much!!

[maia]

AMEN!!

It does my heart good to see this happening, after all these years. Wanda and I go back to 1978, and actual friendship-wise since around 1983. I could not have dreamed at that time that she would have such an outlet for her Elvis stories...AND she would be willing to share it all on such a deep level. She always wanted people to know the beauty of Elvis, that's why she wrote the books and did all that touring with the first one, but it was such a bad experience for her in many ways, and then she was going through her own grieving process and needed some space to reclaim her own life...family, horses...things still alive that made HER feel alive.

NOW she is ready to open the "Elvis Door" again and technology is ready to accomodate her! HOORAY!

Hope you don't mind my little "speech" Wanda...please correct me if I have not represented you properly here.