My very first bus ride (in the USA)

...didn't actually happen.

I was all ready to go - I'd had the ticket in hand for several weeks. I was so excited - this trip would start the end of a year-long separation from a very special person. The bus was scheduled to leave Cookeville and head to Knoxville at 8:45pm, so I arrived with about 20 minutes to spare. There was a bus there already, but it was the bus to Nashville, the driver assured me, "The next bus is yours sweetie, it'll be here any minute."



So I waited.

You see, this wasn't just any old bus ride. I've been on bus rides before. Bus rides, train rides, plain rides, even boat rides - but this was the first in the US. I thought I'd give my country a chance before slamming it for having the worst public transit system in the world.

So I waited some more.

9:00. Maybe there was a wreck and they're running late.

9:30. Ok, this is weird, let me try calling someone. Wait, I don't have any internet connection.

9:45. After calling about 5 numbers, I finally got in touch with someone, who told me to call the Nashville station, and gave me a number.

10:00. Nashville operator: "You're saying the bus is over an hour late? Oh well honey, we don't have any tracking system in our buses - you'd have to contact the station it was going to... Here's a number."

10:10. Knoxville station: NOTHING. Not even an answering machine or call waiting.

10:20. Home office again: "Oh that's not the right number, thy this one."

10:30. Knoxville station (maybe?): Still nothing. Well, it was the right station, which was supposed to be manned 24/7, but nothing.

10:45. Home office. Again. "Nothing? Nothing?! So the bus just never showed up and no one is answering any phones?" Yeah, B****, that's what I've been saying for the last 2 hours.

I stopped waiting at that point, and jumped in my car. I woke up to this, so I can't complain too much.

But I'm now more convinced than ever that we have the worst public transit system in the world.

The Kings' Universal Appeal: "A bad boy, but not TOO bad"

We decided to go to Graceland somewhat hesitantly, it was just something we figured we should do, as TN residents for 15 years, it only seemed fitting. I figured it would be okay - I've seen my share of fancy houses, and I like old, rich, dead people's stuff as much as the next person, but it's not exactly a novelty anymore. So we went to Graceland, not sure what to expect, but not expecting too much. What we found blew us away.

In it's simplicity, it's homey elegance, it's livability, it's unique personality, and it's overwhelming color showed a man, and his family, who lived like normal people. A man who imprinted his personality into every room of his house, but without overwhelming it with elegance and needless luxury. It's a house that you can see someone living in, playing with his daughter, entertaining friends, watching the news, and cooking midnight snacks while watching the tine B&W tube.

Without further ado:

Even the sign is simple and to the point. 

From this view, it really looks like it could be anyone's house - well, not mine, but you get the idea.

Ok, so not many of us have stained glass in our family rooms, or grand pianos for that matter, but he was Elvis, and he had a super long couch and coffee table so that his whole family could sit and drink together, glass peacocks or no.

When his daughter, Lisa Marie, comes home, she stays in the house - the upstairs is closed to the public as it was during his lifetime - and she uses the kitchen, same as it was 50 years ago.

I don't care how much money I have in my life, I will never ever be able to pull this off.

There's a reason this room is so famous. It's crazy and colorful, but somehow calming. A fountain, a panda, a guitar, and the bright Memphis sun - just a normal day in the Jungle Room.

The pasture out back.

And the back yard.

This plaque, hardly modest, was made to honor the philanthropic work that Elvis did, giving away huge amounts of the money he made as he already had everything he wanted and kept his eyes open to all those around him who were struggling even to live. It's taller than I am.

Each of those checks is $1000, worth ~$10,000 in the 50s. This was barely the beginning.

Elvis' appeal was that he was "a bad boy" - who appealed to teens and young adults, but "not dangerous" - a fact that appealed to parents. 

This is the memorial garden. Yep, that's it. 

They included the tractor that the landscaper used to keep up the grounds around Graceland in the automobile museum because it was generally acknowledged that everyone played a part and no work was to be undervalued. So there's the tractor alongside the Ferraris and motorcycles.

Private jet - why not?

And finally, the man loved his sleep! Not only did the jet include several beds and couches, but even a bed that converted into a couch, just in case. A true hero.