Like A Complete Unknown
This is my favorite story about my mother. In 1986 the summer before my son was a senior in high school, Brian attended the Governor's School for International Studies at Memphis State University, which is now the University of Memphis. He'd already spent a week as a delegate to Boy's State where he took his saxophone since he said if he were going to have to march, he wanted to do it with the band. This was his last time to do that because he was chosen Field Commander of the high school marching band which meant he marched backwards in front of the band part of the time. When I was in school, we called them drum majors. Field commander sounds military, much the way Boy's State operates.
After settling Brian into his room and hugging good-bye, Mother and I decided to stay in Memphis and do some sight-seeing. We drove around awhile and decided to visit Graceland which is the height of tacky! It's worth the trip just to see that, but in Elvis's defense, it was sort of frozen in a time warp. It was interesting seeing all the rooms, cars, awards, costumes, and decorating. We enjoyed it and then went out to eat and took a carriage ride around the area. I felt sorry for the horse though. I wonder if they are treated well or not.
As a treat, we decided to splurge and stay at the Peabody Hotel. The Peabody ducks are an institution there. They live in their own penthouse and ride the elevator down to the fountain in the lobby. The ducks are escorted on their trip and waddle to the fountain where they swim and are a source of entertaiment for guests who line up and wait for their arrival in the morning and exit at the end of the day.
The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel coffee shop. While I waited at the door while Mother paid the cashier (another story), I saw this man dressed in a mauve suit vest, faded black trousers, black suede boots, and no shirt. His hair was touseled and he wore sunglasses and an earring. I was transfixed! He was Bob Dylan! I couldn't believe it! As he passed by me, I moronically spoke to him. "Hi" was what I came up with. It was probably enough that early in the mid-morning for him, and to my surprise he looked at me and muttered something as intelligible as his acceptance speech at the Grammy's around that time. I was thrilled!
Mother walked up then, and I told her I couldn't believe I just saw Bob Dylan. "Who is Bob Dylan?" she asked.
"Who is Bob Dylan!! Who is Bob Dylan!! He's only one of the best songwriters ever! He's also a folk singer and a legend!" I couldn't believe she hadn't heard of him at least. Where were some people during the 60's?
Then Mother looked at me in relief and sighed, "Thank goodness! I was afraid that was somebody you knew."
This is my favorite story about my mother. In 1986 the summer before my son was a senior in high school, Brian attended the Governor's School for International Studies at Memphis State University, which is now the University of Memphis. He'd already spent a week as a delegate to Boy's State where he took his saxophone since he said if he were going to have to march, he wanted to do it with the band. This was his last time to do that because he was chosen Field Commander of the high school marching band which meant he marched backwards in front of the band part of the time. When I was in school, we called them drum majors. Field commander sounds military, much the way Boy's State operates.
After settling Brian into his room and hugging good-bye, Mother and I decided to stay in Memphis and do some sight-seeing. We drove around awhile and decided to visit Graceland which is the height of tacky! It's worth the trip just to see that, but in Elvis's defense, it was sort of frozen in a time warp. It was interesting seeing all the rooms, cars, awards, costumes, and decorating. We enjoyed it and then went out to eat and took a carriage ride around the area. I felt sorry for the horse though. I wonder if they are treated well or not.
As a treat, we decided to splurge and stay at the Peabody Hotel. The Peabody ducks are an institution there. They live in their own penthouse and ride the elevator down to the fountain in the lobby. The ducks are escorted on their trip and waddle to the fountain where they swim and are a source of entertaiment for guests who line up and wait for their arrival in the morning and exit at the end of the day.
The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel coffee shop. While I waited at the door while Mother paid the cashier (another story), I saw this man dressed in a mauve suit vest, faded black trousers, black suede boots, and no shirt. His hair was touseled and he wore sunglasses and an earring. I was transfixed! He was Bob Dylan! I couldn't believe it! As he passed by me, I moronically spoke to him. "Hi" was what I came up with. It was probably enough that early in the mid-morning for him, and to my surprise he looked at me and muttered something as intelligible as his acceptance speech at the Grammy's around that time. I was thrilled!
Mother walked up then, and I told her I couldn't believe I just saw Bob Dylan. "Who is Bob Dylan?" she asked.
"Who is Bob Dylan!! Who is Bob Dylan!! He's only one of the best songwriters ever! He's also a folk singer and a legend!" I couldn't believe she hadn't heard of him at least. Where were some people during the 60's?
Then Mother looked at me in relief and sighed, "Thank goodness! I was afraid that was somebody you knew."
