It's a Family Affair in Memphis

Hey Yall!  I bet you saw some of my pictures I posted of my annual trip to Memphis on social media.  I blog about my trip to M-Town every year, but this year was different in a special way because my sister, two brothers on my dad side, as well as my sister's sons, were there and this is the first time of us all being together.  What a glorious moment!

With them living in California, I don't get to see them since they don't travel to the East Coast that much, hopefully, this will change.  I need to start returning home and visiting them as well.





My dad made sure that all of his children were together for this year's family reunion, and guess what he did!  He flew to Oakland, CA from Memphis, rented a 15 passenger van, picked up my grandfather, my uncle (his brother), my two brothers, my sister and her sons, and drove almost across the country to Memphis.





That's way too much driving for me; I did my 6 1/2 hour drive to Memphis feeling like that was too much, while all of them took a road trip that was over a day and a half.  I heard they switch drivers throughout their journey, so no stopping to sleep somewhere, just stop for gas, restroom breaks, and food.  Have y'all ever done a cross country drive before?





All of my Oakland family stayed with my dad at his house, I like having privacy and opted for my girls and me to stay in a nearby hotel.






I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money on a hotel room, so the girls and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express.  Big mistake!  That hotel had so many different problems that need serious attention.

First of all, I saw several stains on the floor, and on the bed covers.  Bathroom tub floor was peeling, as well as stained.  Housekeeping didn't do a good job cleaning the bathroom because I found someone else's hair on the floor.  Also, a sewer-like smell was coming from the bathroom.  Disgusting!  Even the power went out during our stay too!  What the heck, don't hotels have power generators???  Ridiculous!

I wanted to complain about our room, but with just me and the girls on this trip, I didn't want to cause a problem.  The location of the hotel itself was a bit sketchy; I didn't feel that safe there, but I made sure that my family had the address of the hotel and my number to get a hold of me, and me able to get a hold of them.  Each night, I would text my family I made it safely to our hotel.





What's up with these hotels in Memphis?  Each one I stayed in has been bad!






July 1st, 2016


The first night when I got into town, we missed out on the first festivities which was going to the huge Bass Pro Shop and walking along Beale Street.  The girls and I done both before, so it wasn't like we missed out on anything.  So we hung around my dad's house before we called it a night.  That drive to Memphis took a lot out of me, and I was ready to crash in bed.






July 2nd, 2016

One of my cousins had a pool party at his house, which I consider a mini mansion.  You walk into his home and immediately want to redo your own home.  So beautifully decorated and huge!  Something you would see on the show Fixer Upper after the home has been renovated.

All the kids played in the pool located in the backyard while I sat poolside watching them.  I eventually went in with them, but those kids were too rough in the water, I was not trying to get my hair and face wet.

Lunch was buffet style, with guest bringing side dishes.  Our food was delicious, especially whoever made that nacho dip, it was on point!

After cooling off in the pool and finishing up our lunch, the family and I headed to Main Event for some gaming fun together.  We were in there deep; we took over several of the bowling lanes.  I lost a few games and won a few too.  I need to start going bowling more for more practice, bowling use to be my favorite sport when I was younger.





It was great seeing all the smiling faces of my family having a great time together, creating memories that'll last a lifetime.  I cherish moments like these.

July 3rd, 2016

We had our annual big family bbq at a national park near my father's house.





It was so hot and humid outside, the bugs were out ready to feast too, on me!  UGH!!!  My dad brought fans and bug spray, and I parked myself in front of the fans the majority of the time to cool myself off and hide from the pests.

Each year, we celebrate one of the elder's birthday, this year we celebrated my grandfather's.  I have no clue how old he is, and he is not telling a soul.  My grandfather is keeping secrets from us y'all, lol!   Check out the cake with those question marks!

We gathered around, ate BBQ, played games, all a good time!

Once our time was up at the park, we took our party back at my dad's for more good eating and playing cards.





My uncle put some salmon on the grill, and man was it good, and I don't even like salmon due to the fishy taste.  He told me never to buy farm-raised salmon, only wild catch.  Marinate the salmon with seasoning for about a day before grilling it; that helps with the taste.  I'm going to try that out.





Also, my Uncle helped me learn how to play Spades.  I wish the Spades game were played indoors because outside those mosquitoes were eating my legs, arms, and feet up.  I had to stop playing.






July 4th, 2016

It's 4th of July!  But it was a more low-key one this year because my Dad and Oakland family were headed to New Orleans and San Antonio the next day.





One of my cousins is a manager at a Nike Store and get huge discounts, so she took us to an employee Nike store to shop for shoes.

That was a great shopping experience, no crowds; we were able to shop in peace.  And you know what else was good?  My uncle purchased me and the girls shoes.  That was so sweet of him!  He said that he missed our birthdays and hadn't sent us any Christmas gifts, so that was the least he could.  Now, this helps me kick start my back to school shopping.





When we finished our shopping, we noticed that it had just stopped raining.  Raining is a bad thing in Memphis; that means more mosquitoes will be out for blood!  And we have to be outside later in the evening to pop fireworks!  I should've known better and wore some pants that day!

Sun went down, the stars came out, time to pop some fireworks!  Usually we have about $500 worth of fireworks shared with one another, but this time, we had about $300 worth.   So, us popping fireworks didn't last very long, maybe about an hour or so.

Lauren stayed behind at my dad's because she is scared of all the booming noises, Michelle faced her fears and tagged along with me.  She sat back at a safe distance and watched everyone else pop their fireworks.  I think one day she'll not be as scared and start popping fireworks herself.

July 5th, 2016


It's our last day in Memphis, and we said our goodbyes to my family as they continue their cross country journey.

Here the girls and I left behind in Memphis, what will we do on our last day?  I know!  Let's do Graceland!  I always wanted to go there and see what Elvis's house looked like on the inside.

With every trip we take, I like to make sure the girls have a take away from it, learning about a person, place, or thing.  Last month, they learned about Dolly Parton, now on this trip, they learned about the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis!

You know what, I didn't realize how much of a hunk Elvis was, he sure was a good looking man!  He made sure he always stayed looking great because throughout his house was plenty of mirrors.

Here is the history about Graceland:

Graceland was once part of a 500-acre farm that was owned by the S.E. Toof family. The land had been part of the family for generations and was named after one of the female relatives, Grace. According to Graceland history, in 1939, Grace's niece, Ruth Brown Moore and her husband, Dr. Thomas Moore, built the mansion, which became well-known to the locals of Memphis. The Moore's daughter, Ruth Marie, was musically accomplished and became a harpist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Classical recitals in the front formal rooms were common, just as rock 'n' roll and gospel jam sessions would be after the next owner moved in.

In the spring of 1957, when Elvis Presley was 22, he purchased the home and grounds for just over $100,000. The previous year had been a whirlwind - it was Elvis' first year of super-stardom including historic network television appearances, record-breaking live performances and armloads of gold record awards. At the time he bought Graceland, Elvis was working on his second motion picture, "Loving You," with "Jailhouse Rock" to follow, just the beginning of a long film career for Elvis Presley.

House guests at Graceland included family members and friends at various times - some in the mansion proper and some in residential accommodations elsewhere on the grounds. And although Elvis had multiple homes in the Los Angeles area and spent lots of time on the road with his concerts, Graceland was always home base - a constant in the life of Elvis Presley.

 Pictures of inside Elvis Presley's Home

 

 

Here are some facts we learned about Elvis:

1. Elvis had a twin brother that was stillborn, leaving Elvis growing up as an only child.


2. Elvis birthplace is Tupelo, Mississippi.


3. Elvis did not allow people to go upstairs in his home, that is his private area, to respect his wishes, people are still not allowed to go upstairs, and the doors remain locked.  Now that creeped me out, had me wondering if the ghost of Elvis lives up there.


4. Elvis final resting place, along with his family, and twin brother is at Graceland.


5. Globally, Elvis has sold over a billion records.


6. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977. He was 42.





Elvis is way before my time, but with his legendary status, everyone, including my girls know who he is.  Visiting Graceland was a fabulous learning experience that everyone should visit at least once.





By the way, Graceland is more than just visiting Elvis's home; there are also several other Elvis exhibits across the street, with restaurants, gift shops, including the Heart Break Hotel.  Maybe that should've been the hotel we needed to stay in.

Opening October 2016 is The Guest House at Graceland, a new full-service hotel with 450 spacious rooms, two restaurants, spaces for meetings and special events, a 464-seat theater and much more.  They are already taking reservations.  I would love to stay at this newest hotel, but will have to wait until the newness dies down, it's going to be jam packed with Elvis fans for awhile.

 



Another exciting adventure was had in Memphis!  I'm looking forward spending next year with my love ones again!  Hopefully, my siblings, uncle, and nephews will come and visit again; it was great reconnecting with them.

What did you do over the 4th of July weekend?

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