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Graceland had a very somber, reverent atmosphere. Although there were at least 20 people in each room with me at any given time, everyone was totally silent the whole time because we were each provided with headsets that played an audio tour. I looked around at the faces of other people as they looked and listened and even the teenagers had looks of serious concetration the whole time. And I personally had to try not to cry at the grave. It was weird, one eye teared up.

I was warned by people who had visited in the past that it was not what you'd think of as a "mansion", but I expected the house to be tackier than it was. The famous Jumgle Room did have green shag carpet on the floor and ceiling (actually, I'd love to do that to a room) and there was a 15 foot long white couch in the front room. Also, the basement/TV room had three TVs because Elvis wanted to watch all 3 networks at once. President Johnson apparently inspired this behavior.

So I got K a snow globe and myself a t-shirt and a pair of socks that say "Elvis rocks". Right now I'm listening to Elvis's best country songs that I got from our megalomart here.

E.L. actually went along with my parents and I, a brave move IMO. Because who really wants to spend a long weekend roadtripping with the parents of your more than friend less than girlfriend? At least we had our own room, which we made good use of playing a lot of Trivial Pursuit. Seriously! We were too tired to go out because of getting up early with my folks and then staying up real late as per our usual schedules.

Of course, all four of us did go down into Tunica, Mississippi and gamble one night. They bring you free drinks as long as you're gambling! All we did was play the quarter slots and I don't know how many Long Islands E. and I drank! My mother, who has no vices other than giving unsolicited advice, went nuts over this one machine. I asked her how she was doing so well and she said "Clean living." I said, "Clean living will get you to heaven more slowly." I lost and then won back $40, Daddy lost $20 and said that was his limit, and E. lost $50 (played the roulette table too). But Mama wanted to go to another casino and we wouldn't go and now she can't stop talking about it. So that was a scream.

I don't know what to plan on next. Graceland was the destination I'd most wanted to get to. I didn't even know how I'd feel, but I'll tell you now I feel sad and obsessed.

E. never talks unless we're alone, btw. For like 12 hours there and nine back he didn't say anything. So the last four hours I was so over it I interviewed him. I always wanted to spend some time with a man who wasn't obnoxious, but its like having that singing frog from the Warner Brothers cartoons.

Oh yeah, I was born on Elvis's 40th birthday, and David Bowie shares our birthday as well. My last lover looked like Elvis and my current one looks like David Bowie. Beautiful men may also be the death of me.

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