 2008 marked my eighth year in a row at Elvis Week; it was quick and wet and very cool - in the hip sense. Once again, we saw license plates from every state in the Union in the parking lots (even Hawaii), and heard the accents from nearly every corner of the globe.
In the 36 hours we were there, we ate large at Gus's Fried Chicken and Rendezvous while saving room for a slab of meat-loaf and a peanut butter banana sandwich at Graceland. We raised our candles high at the vigil, we took pictures, and talked to people from all over who were excited that they finally made it to Elvis Week. It rained buckets all day and into the night and turned sweltering hot the next day. The turnout was a bit smaller than in the past, but it was still a chance to see an ocean of Elvis fans celebrate the life of one of the greatest singers & entertainers who has ever lived.  The bikers, rock-a-billys, tribute artists, baby-boomers, WWII vets, blue-hairs, middle-aged, teen-agers and little kids all joined together, embraced by the glow of a few thousand candles to sing an Elvis song or two.It reminded me of this: "When I was a child, ladies and gentleman, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was a hero in the movie. So every dream that I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times. I learned very early in life that without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain't got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend; without a song. So I keep singing a song. Goodnight, Thank You". Elvis to the Jaycees, January 15, 1971
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