I’ll never forget the day that Elvis died.

I was ten years old and lying down in the front seat of my Teamster Daddy’s black 1976 Lincoln Continental on the way to a grievance committee meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was a hot August day, but cool inside the car with the air conditioner on full blast and my face against the plush red seats. The radio announcer broke into the song that was playing and announced that Elvis was dead. We were just south of Jackson and I sat up right immediately and said “Mother is going to be so upset!”

Teamster Daddy pulled off the road to find a pay phone to call her. He bought me a coke to drink. I remember crying and T-Daddy stroking my head and telling me everything would be all right. I was only ten, but I knew that something big had happened. Most people remember where they were when President Kennedy was shot and I remember where I was when I first learned the Challenger had exploded, but I can remember the moment and the different shades of green that lined the miles of Mississippi interstate flying by as I sat there and thought about Elvis and how much my mom and her friends loved him.

Does every girl born in the 50s / 60s think her father reminds her of Elvis? These Teamster Daughters do. There is something about the vulnerability of T-Daddy's childhood - losing his father and brother when he was just a boy and having his teenage years taken away to be replaced with responsibility of his mother and three sisters that reminds of Elvis. There's also the southern boy hitting the big time with his swagger, charm and good looks that to me puts Teamster Daddy and Elvis in the same category. Then there's the southern drawl they both possessed and just their overall coolness. T-Daddy had a sweet innocent baby face as a boy which grew into handsomeness. Men either wanted to be T-Daddy's best friend and were in awe of him or they were jealous of him and they hated him. Like Elvis, T-Daddy had his posse of friends who would do his bidding and crazy life-loving hijinks or then there were those that would sling mud at him.

Like Elvis, Teamster Daddy always did things in a big, big way, was generous with his friends and family and loved to do everything with big fanfare. Of course the Elvis inspired fashion trends engulfed T-Daddy big lapels, chest hair showing, flair legs, white shiny loafers for men, gold chains. If Elvis were still alive in the world of celebrity brand fashion - he would have a label and T-Daddy would be sporting his threads.

When Elvis would come to town to perform, Teamster Daddy would treat Teamster Wife and her friends to front row seats at his concert. He would give her the use of the Town Car and give them money to go out to an elaborate steak dinner. Teamster Wife was the envy of the neighborhood, she and her friends would be dressed up in sexy pant suits, hot pants, their hair teased to kingdom come. They looked hot! They did not look the moms who schlepped us to the pool and grocery store each day, these were women going to have a good time - leaving their kids and cares behind. We would wait up until they got home, the party atmosphere at the Teamster Ranch was just as exciting, because after all both Kings were in town - Elvis and Teamster Daddy.

Teamster Wife did not disappoint. Her eyes were always dancing when she got home. She would play the songs he sang on the stereo, what he wore, what color his scarves were and told us how the Municipal Auditorium was vibrating so hard when the Elvis Intro Song started playing, and how the thousands of women were throwing bras and panties on the stage (not Teamster Wife). One of the most impressive things that happened to Mom and the Teamster Neighbors was that one of our next door neighbors got scratched up in a fight over one of Elvis' scarves. She gave as good as she got. Teamster Daddy was impressed and I could never look at her the same way - she had gotten in a fight over Elvis!

Once after receiving an anonymous tip from someone who knew Elvis' driver, Teamster Wife learned that the King would be arriving from Memphis at a local municipal airport at a certain time to come to town to record some music for his album. Well, one innocent whisper to a member of her bowling team led to another leak and when Teamster Family arrived at the airport the entire bowling league was there with their children acting nonchalantly as if they all were there to see someone off or wait on their husband to arrive. It was the best dressed contigent in Nashville. After waiting forever, his small jet arrived, the women and children flocked to the fence and Elvis' came over and took the time to shake hands with the frenzied and screaming crowd before being swept into the car by Col. Tom and his bodyguards. He seemed tickled at his reception and I'm sure the driver was sheepfaced somewhere.

When he left we were still buzzing from the momentary brush with greatness. He left us with a smile and a wave and instantly reminded me of the brief moments we got to spend with Teamster Daddy - he was always on his way to important gig, but when he made time for us we felt like we were the most important Teamster Girls in the room. When Teamster Daddy or Elvis left the building there was always excitement in their wake.