Elvis and my parents

I have this memory. Sometime in the 1960s and I was grade school age. That's about as close as I can get to the year and date.

My parents were setting up our new family Hi Fi set. My Dad was acting agitated because it would not fit just right, and he kept having to shift and maneuver it. He then turned on the attached radio to see if it would work, and on came Elvis singing, "I can't stop falling in love with you..."

All tension suddenly left the room.

My mom's eyes got big and she glanced quickly at my Dad. He looked at her and their eyes just stayed that way...like they were in a trance with this funny happy look on their faces. This was my first introduction to Elvis and I remember thinking, "Wow, this singer must be really important."

It wasn't till many years later, that I figured out it was not Elvis who put them in a trance.


I'm so thankful Mom did not marry this one:
or this one:(Apparently Mom was dating these brothers, George and Jim Coe. )



And especially not this one:Somehow I just can't picture Mom on Sunday afternoons in a bar.


Good she married this one instead:

17 comments:

Natalie said...

What a fun post! I love the picture of your parents. Your dad, so tall and dashing. Your mom looks happiest with him too. What a treasured memory.

Eileen said...

Beautiful!

I loved seeing the picture of your parents as a young couple. And I love the way you showed us how your Mom's life took her down a lovely path with marrying your Dad. Beautiful love story!

Very sweet post!
All the best,
Eileen
PS ~ I love the styles! I want your Mom's outfit in that first picture!

Richard said...

My growing up must have been more G rated than yours. The only song I remember on that hi-fi came from the only record I ever remember mom and dad owning...Cool Clear Water by Marty Robbins. Elvis must have been their guilty pleasure along with frequent trips to Foster Freeze down at Cedar and Shields for a hot fudge sundae or Bob's Big Boy for onion rings.
And those pictures!! I've never seen them before...no wonder Grandma Lella embraced our father so readily.

Tyler Heasley said...

Yeah, I'm glad she married that one too. I like my genes.

Grandma Honey said...

Tyler you do have good genes. Just think how your ears would look if she had married candidate #2.

And Richard, I think that song was Cool Clear Water! And the Pal Joey album: The Lady is a Tramp and My Funny Valentine. Remember those? I think they had 2 albums total. For years.

Raven Rozier said...

Hi Jill. Love the Elvis video (he was my first concert at age 7). Super cool pics and memories. You have a fun blog! Raven

Grandmotherfairy said...

Sweet post Jill......

darlene said...

I'm surprised you have photos of your mom's early suitors!
I love that song, too. It hits me the same way. It's very romantic!

Dad and Susan said...

Your brother Richard always has a different and amusing take on things! Your dad had a lot of laughs with this post and the comments, but he says he doesn't remember any of it. I said, "You don't?" and he said, "It was over 50 years ago, I barely remember what I had for breakfast today."

Grandma Honey said...

Well Susan it was just a tiny little moment that as a young girl I picked up on and kept in my memory because it really struck me...how some guy on the radio could have that kind of affect on my parents!

Darlene, I know it is sort of strange to have my Mom's old boyfriends on here. I found these pictures in a box the day before. Then yesterday while I was making pasta salad suddenly that Elvis song came on and I thought back to that moment over 45 years ago. Because of that small moment in time I often think of my parents when I hear Elvis....all these years later.

Raven!! Welcome!!! I'm sorry I missed your book signing. I really wanted to be there but I had another obligation that night.

Richard said...

How come last night the guy with the sticky outy ears was alone with mom and today his mother (apparently) is in the picture? Am I losing my mind?

Grandma Honey said...

No you aren't losing it. Last night I took his mom out of the picture and then I decided today she needed to be back in it. Reading Mom's scrapbook last night, she was also dating this guy's brother George Coe. The guy in the picture is Jim Coe. I just found out he died in Korea as a young soldier. George died in 2002 at age 74. I'll see if I can find a picture of George and put that one on too.

Karen Mortensen said...

I love this post. I didn't know your mom had so many boyfriends but it wouldn't surprise me. I am glad she married Grandpa too. He is awesome.

kelly said...

Cute post, gotta love those old pictures. It is interesting to note too how your mom looks with him, glowing, definately better and happier than she does with the other fellas.

grandmapeg said...

What a sweet post! I love the fashions back then. You are so fortunate to have these pictures!! I'm glad your mom picked your dad! What a beautiful couple. Thanks for sharing!

Mar~ said...

Great looking couple! Sweet story. So, wast that "their" song?

Grandma Honey said...

I don't know Mar, being my Mom is gone and my dad can't remember. :)

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