In my favorite blog to date, I wrote a story about the Leaders that influenced my development over forty years. Today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. Milestone anniversary dates like these appeal to me because they remind me of where I was at the exact moment when I heard the news. (Lighthouse Beach in Evanston, I was just a kid at 16, and Elvis seemed so old at 42. That’s me in the third row in this June 1977 photo.
Elvis was just in Chicago in May, months before his early departure. One of my teammates, David D. (4th row, same photo), actually went to see him at the Chicago Stadium. Lucky guy, and what a memorable concert for him.
I think a lot about that summer, and at this very moment, I’m practically looking at it and admiring it in the palm of my hand. Soon, this moment will slip between my fingers.
It’s surreal how quickly 40 years can go by. Yet, it’s even more amazing how a few milestone events, or in this case, anniversaries can trigger your memory that can bring you back to an exact moment, the exact place, and recall the exact sensations. In this instance, I’m 16, working at the beach on a gorgeous summer day, and you, the reader, are there as well, wondering about Elvis.
Music can tend to do that for me as Fleet Mac Rumors 1977, carried the music forward for the next 40+ years.
Enjoy Elvis Appreciation Day.
