So Why are We Going to Memphis?

Why Memphis? When I tell someone about our trip to Memphis, I get a lot of funny looks. And advice about how Memphis isn't the best place for two unaccompanied females to go. And so forth and so on.

But it isn't about Memphis, it's about the trip. Paige really wanted to fly somewhere this summer, and Memphis is a nice short relatively inexpensive plane trip (if you buy your tickets at the right time). She is turning double digits this year, and that's a really big deal to a child. As fast as the last ten years has flown by, I'm sure the next few years will too. Will Paige always want to go somewhere with me? I'm thinking "NO!". But right now, she is still willing to be seen with her mother, and I know I better hold on and make the most of these moments. Another big factor in choosing Memphis, is Graceland of course. But not for obvious reasons. You see, I'm not really an Elvis fan. I have nothing against him, but I could take him or leave him. But my mama loved Elvis (and William Lee Golden from the Oak Ridge Boys...she had weird taste), and when she found out that Paige liked Elvis, she greatly encouraged it. Mama never went to Graceland...or much of anywhere. I never went on a "spend the night in a motel trip" with my parents until after I was married. But I'm sure my mama would have loved to have gone to Graceland with us. Right after Daddy died, I tried to get Mama to go on trips with us. She came and spent a week in Milledgeville, we went to St. Augustine, and we went to Callaway Gardens. But it got harder and harder to get Mama to go anywhere...and when she did, she didn't want to do anything. So I stopped trying. Maybe if I hadn't stopped trying, she wouldn't have given up. I won't stop trying with Paige. If she wants to go, and I can take her...I'm gonna. And if Memphis to see Graceland is what she wants to do, then we're going to Graceland! For Paige, for me, and for my mama.