R.I.P. Elvis

Thirty years ago today, Elvis Presley died at the age of 42. Taco Queen (my All-New Really Hilarious Nickname for my Wife) and I commemorated his passing by watching “Elvis Lives” on PBS, a rock concert performed in Memphis by Elvis’s old band mates. During the concert, they projected footage on the big screen of Elvis performing in Hawaii and Las Vegas. But they had taken out all the music and back up vocals in the film so that all that was left were Elvis’s vocals. Then his former band members and back up singers accompanied the film live. It sounds kind of cheesy, but it was a really cool gimmick and it would have been amazing to have been there.

Hundreds of people began to gather in Memphis yesterday, where it was 105 degrees, to mourn Elvis Presley with a candlelight vigil last night. One person died in their trailer because of the heat. One guy who recently lost a lung showed up with his oxygen tank. I can only admire this level of devotion. We went to Graceland last year at Taco Queen’s suggestion, and I was completely converted to the Church of Elvis, but more at the Buy-a-lot-of-Elvis-Hits Novice level, not the One-Lung Fanatic level. And Memphis in general was a great city to visit – very cool. Well, maybe not when it’s 105.

Like Sands Through an Hour Glass…

Am I too old to be bloggin’? Yesterday I was prescribed my first pair of reading glasses. I’ve always prided myself on keen vision, but I have to admit that when I put them on, I was stunned at the difference they made. So, I’m grateful for the improvement, but still embarrassed to be seen wearing them. Especially at work.

Why at work? Because I work with children. I already blogged about Television Shooter being surprised that I knew an Augustana song. But I didn’t tell you about our new receptionist. She’s been with us a couple of months now (and she’s outstanding – let’s call her Granger). But her first week here, we were celebrating someone’s birthday, and Granger started going on about how her mother had just turned 50. Then she turns to me while I sat there just quietly minding my own business, and says in all sincerity, as if it were some sort of complement, “You’re not 50 yet, right?” As if she intended to add, “Because you look younger than 50. I never would have guessed you were 50.”

The entire department erupted in laughter. I’m only 86 percent of the way to 50. Well, actually a little over 87 percent to be honest. My wife told me I shouldn’t worry what 25-year-old receptionists think. And, yesterday, when I told my wife that I was getting reading glasses, she said, “Don’t worry. I won’t think you’re old.” I can tell sarcasm when I hear it.

I think I'll go to Boston

We're headed to Boston for a lengthy vacation. Should be fun driving all that way and crowding into too-small hotel rooms!

Yesterday at work, because we're going to Boston, Television Shooter (not her real name) was telling me about this song called “Boston" that's on the radio a lot. She had this really funny look on her face like, “This is a real cool song, but you’re old so you probably haven’t heard of it." Then she said, “I don't think you'd like it.” I said, “Boston, by Augustana?” Then she got an even funnier look on her face like, “How does an old guy like you know about a cool song like that?”

Then I asked her, “That's that song that has that lyric, ‘No one knows my name,’ right?” She said, “Yessss…” with some hesitation. “So, TV, can you tell me what television show the lyric is referencing,” which is a question I thought was so obvious anyone would know the answer. She looked at me this time like, “What are you talking about now, old man?”

I said, “So you think I’m too old to know a song like Boston, but it turns out you’re too young to even know that the lyric of the song is an ironic reference to the TV show, ‘Cheers,’ which is set in Boston where everybody knows your name.” I found that hilarious and had a good laugh at her expense. Or maybe I just made a jackass of myself.

To be fair, though, TV is familiar with my preference for exotica and lounge music, so I understand the confusion. But my tastes are certainly not limited to that.

We're spending the day here at home getting ready. Maybe I'll send a blog update from Faneuil Hall!