The Week of the King

Submitted by: Sandra Harris Frey

There is one word that evokes great excitement in our culture and the many cultures in the world. Elvis. I am an Elvis girl. I can still remember those Elvis LP's played on the phonograph my parents gave to me. I would fall asleep on the floor with my ear to the speaker. I was old enough to remember the televised 1968 Madison Square Garden concert. The black leather outfit and “jam session”. It was not the early years, Hawaii or Las Vegas years that made me the Elvis fan. It was 1968.

Elvis Week in Memphis just came to a close where there were thousands of adoring fans camped out to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the King’s death. He was the King of Rock and Roll. Anyone of the “Elvis generation” can tell you exactly where they were the moment they found out Elvis had passed on. Many Kentuckians had tickets to attend his concert in Rupp Arena the next week. Most opted to keep their tickets instead of turning them back in for a refund.

In 2005, I had the opportunity to meet Priscilla Presley. It was an In the Interest of Women conference sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing. I attend this conference every year and have met Wynona, Mary Higgins Clark and many others. Everyone was awestruck as you can imagine. Priscilla Presley was the closest to Elvis any of us would ever be. Her presentation was scripted and we all listened intently as she talked about her life with Elvis and beyond.

I am sure the untold stories that will never be heard must be bittersweet. There are things we choose to keep private in our own lives. Everyone has to have a part of their lives that stays truly with you and no one else. Incidentally, the part of her life that impressed me the most was not the fact that she married Elvis Presley. It was her charity work with the Dream Foundation.

Our perceptions of others should encompass their entire being and not just a part of them. What’s that old saying about not judging a book by its cover?

Romans 14:13:

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.