35 years...

35 years ago, I was at Lake Pulaski, preparing for the start of the new school year which was only a short time away.  I turned on the radio (Yes, I could HEAR at that time) and had turned to WCCO Radio.  At the time, AM radio was still tremendously popular and I could hear songs on the speaker.  FM radio hadn't really made a dent with me.

Not sure exactly what time of day it was -- afternoon or early evening.  But it was odd hearing an Elvis song on WCCO.  It wasn't exactly their style.  Then came the announcement:  Elvis Presley, the KING of Rock and Roll, was dead.  Found dead in his bathroom, at age 42, The KING was gone.

Rumors would swirl.  He wasn't dead.  He'd gone into hiding.  He'd changed his name and become "Orion".  He had gone into the Witness Protection Program.  He'd retired, wanted to be left alone.

35 years.  Elvis would be 77 now.  Has ANYONE heard from him?  What happened to all the rumors?  They died.  Just like the King, they died.

But some rumors still remain:  Why is the stone on Presley's grave wrong with his middle name?  It's ARON, not AARON.

Take some time today -- if you still have an Elvis 45, cassette, 8-track, CD, or even MP3 -- take the time to listen and remember.  If you're too young to remember the King, or have never heard of him, you missed a lot.

Remember:  Life has a way of ending quickly.  You're here on day, the next day POOF...you are no longer here.  Leave a mark.  Make it a good one.

RIP, Elvis -- The King is dead.  Long live his name.