The 22-Year Friendship

Ch. 28: The Long Awaited Engagement

*The long awaited engagement between Elvis and Priscilla!*

In June, James, the children, and I took a vacation to Hawaii. Since The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl I, all of the families of the football players were being hounded by the press and fans.Especially our family.

Since James was the Quarterback of the team, and Jack was a linebacker, the press labeled them the dynamic family duo. Stories of how James and Jack were best friends since high school to how James married Jack's stepsister whose best friend is his wife were all over the papers. It was certainly a confusing family relation, but we needed to get away from all of it.

We stayed at a family house in Hawaii for a month and it was lovely. However, I got an unexpected call from Elvis.

Elvis: "Hey Lilly..."

Me: "Hi Elvis! How are you?"

Elvis: "I'm doing fine. I hope i'm not disturbing your family time with James and the kiddos."

Me: "You can call anytime. What do you need to talk about?"

Elvis: "Colonel, Daddy, and The Beaulieu's are pressuring me to marry Cilla."

Me: "I can see why.. You and Priscilla have been together since 1959, and she's already 21. I would assume the reason why you didn't marry her when she turned 18 was because she was too young in yohr eyes."

Elvis: "I'm just chickening out or somethin'. Maybe I'm stressed out."

Me: "You are stressed out. You need to relax. Let me give you a tip on debating whether or not marriage is the thing for you and Priscilla. Every girl wants to get married.. except for nuns. I know Priscilla wants to marry you and have little ones. It's a girl's dream. Your mama wanted little grandkids of her own, and I want my children to have a playmate."

Elvis: "I want some kiddos. Wouldn't it be sad if I didn't have a Lil ' Elvis or Cilla?"

Me: "Couldn't imagine it."

Elvis: "I'm planning to get the ring somewhere this month. Thanks Lilly for helping me through my problems. The only woman I can trust."

Me: "No problem Elvis. Remember, call me whenever you need advice or need to talk."

I got excited. Elvis planned to marry Priscilla. I told James about the news and he was glad. We both witnessed Elvis have a handful of women in his life, and now he chose his one. We discussed it between one another.

James: "It's about time! He's 31 years old and needs to marry and have Rock n' Roll kiddos of his own. How many girls did he almost marry? "

Me: "i think he was serious with his girlfriends.. Dixie and him dated for about 2 years, then June, and he had a huge crush on Debra Paget. Anita was the one who was with him the longest before Priscilla."

James: "Well, Priscilla is mature, nice, and a pretty lady. This will be a great sight to see."

It wasn't known when Elvis was going to propose to Priscilla, but it actually was going to happen. Elvis called me at least twice a week to let me know what was in the works. Elvis was worrying about what ring to get her, but I suggested that he use the ring I gave him way back when we were young. He liked the idea, and got a replica ring for Priscilla.

While Elvis' secret plan was safely hidden from Priscilla and friends, Priscilla was worried about the future. She called me while I was getting my hair and make-up done for a summer photoshoot. She called me at a chaotic time while wardrobe was showing me 20 different bathing suits to wear. My mother was handed me the phone with an annoyed face.