Pilgrimage to Mecca

Since I have been 9 years old, my grandmother and her best friend, Willie, have made the pilgrimage to Mecca every August. I have been with them at least 8 of those years, and was the chosen one this year to drive them to Memphis! This was the first trip I have gotten to go with the girls all by myself and enjoy my two grandmothers. And, may I say, when they are in Memphis, they are like brand new grandmas! We had the best time laughing and reminiscing , singing and dancing at Elvis Week 2008!

Here are Grandma and Willie shopping for me a jumpsuit!

This would be grandma in a store with a life size poster of Elvis. Can you imagine what she would do if he were real?

We spent a little extra money and stayed downtown this year and our hotel was right across the street from the Convention Center where a lot of shows and concerts took place...which was very good considering we didn't get done partying at the concerts each night until about 11:30! Those grandmas were about to kill me! This is a picture of the impersonator contest we went to one night....and I have to say...it was awesome! These guys take their jobs very seriously and looked and even sang like Elvis! (of course there is no real substitute for the real thing!)

We went to Graceland on Saturday, after the candelight vigil so we could see all of the flowers that the thousands, yes, I said thousands of visitors had left for Elvis the night before. Kelli, this picture is for you! How dare you question me on the date of Elvis' death????? :)

This would be Donny...Donny is our new favorite guy! He got second place in the impersonator's contest (to which my grandma actually booed, very loudly) and then the next day when we went down to Beale Street, we saw his name outside of this restaraunt/club saying he would be playing a show that night. So, we had to go and see him! We had the most expensive dinner (but very good), just to see Donny. And, my grandma told him how much she loved him and that she was cheering for him at the contest...and in his true downhome Elvis fashion he said that he heard her voice and appreciated it, and "Thank you, thank you very much."

This would be my car with the Elvis sunshades in the windows for our long journey!

Our hotel

Since we were downtown, we took the trolley all around to shop and see the sights. The funniest thing on our trip was the 1st time we got on the trolley. The driver was trying to tell grandma and Willie that the senior fair was only $.75, but they couldn't understand him, so grandma said," I can't hear you and what are you saying to me?" He said (after trying two times to tell her), "Just put your dollar in and sit down and be quiet!"

Canada Elvis-He stayed in our hotel!

Twelve year old boy Elvis

We tried to get as many pics of all the Elvis' we could but some did not turn out, like 10 year old girl Elvis, couple Elvis', and foreigner Elvis.

All in all, we had a great time with great memories and laughs! I hope to take the girls back again next year!

"Before Elvis, there was nothing."

John Lennon