Lisa Marie, Gone Too Soon

 Oh no! Not Lisa Marie Presley! Like father, like daughter, like son. A triple loss! Lisa Marie was born in Memphis, Tennessee 55 years ago and just missed celebrating her birthday this year by ten days. What is the curse on the talented Presley family? Lisa leaves behind four husbands and four children. Soon she will be buried next to her son Benjamin who died two years ago at age 20 by suicide. Lisa Marie visited Graceland with her grief counselor days before she passed away. They sat together by her father and son's graves where she told him she wanted to be buried. Her counselor replied that would not be for a long time. She agreed. However, four days later she was dead. Lisa Marie's daughter just announced that her mother will be buried next to her beloved son Ben at Graceland. I must admit that when I was embarrassed for her when I watched Lisa Marie interviewed at the Golden Globes Award Ceremony three days before she passed away. She was slurring her words and seemed very insecure. Luckily, the cast of "Elvis" and the announcer just kept smiling and continued the interview as if it was normal. I even told my husband that Lisa Marie seemed drunk. The announcer has now said that he feels sad about her last interview. I did too and realized it was a train wreck waiting to happen. Lisa Marie was supportive on the set filming "Elvis"and added insights into his life. Lisa and her mom were there to cheer the "Elvis" cast at her last Golden Globe Award Ceremony.

    I remember visiting Graceland with my husband and children when they were younger. We toured the fancy home with everything you needed in it. It was smaller than I thought it would be. It was also retro with lots of mirrors, chrome with paisley and orange colors. It hasn't been updated too much since Elvis lived in it. It looked very comfortable and smaller than I expected. It was almost cozy with a fireplace, comfortable furniture, and a game room with a pool table. Elvis named his private plane for Lisa Marie, and she grew up in this luxurious southern mansion with everything a little girl would want. There was a pool, a playroom full of toys, a pet pony, and let's not forget a real airplane. She told the story of  Billy Idol and their band was on tour and played with Lisa Marie and her band in Memphis. She asked them up to Graceland for a tour at midnight. They raced around the grounds in golf carts. Only Billy Idol got to go upstairs with her and see Elvis's bedroom. I feel sorry for her son and her father Elvis for their lives were shortened by drugs, mental issues, and fame. There have been multitudes of famous people expressing their loss and memories of Lisa Marie on Social Media. My heart goes out to the Presley Family. 

    Lisa Marie tried to have a private life and a family. She also had a high-profile life marrying Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage. She hiked with Oprah and was on her TV show four times. I am sure Lisa Marie had many stories to tell. She was writing her memoir about Michael Jackson and Elvis when she passed away. She also made a record but didn't want to be known as the daughter of Elvis. That was impossible. At the time of death, Lisa Marie's former husband Michael Lockwood, and their two 14-year-old daughters lived with her. Michael tried to resuscitate her when she collapsed at home on that fatal night. Someone called 911 and the ambulance rushed her to the hospital still alive. Unfortunately, the rest is history.

    It is also rumored that Lisa Marie had a negative net worth when she passed away. What are the lessons we can learn from this sad story?  We are all rich with our family, friends, a home, and lists of things we need to get done daily. We are able to complete the tasks ourselves without personal assistants, agents, nannies, or managers. At least I don't have any. Life is complicated for everyone. Throw in the pandemic that complicated everything for everyone. Recently, I read about doing a 'Life Review' to examine who you've become and what you are looking forward to doing. Just ask yourself these questions today.: What's one story that people will tell about you after you're gone? If you could clone yourself, what traits would you keep and which would you get rid of? Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to tell you are sorry? What is your signature meal? Mine is gooey lasagne with an Italian salad and a glass of Chianti. I look back on that Italian meal with many memories around the world and look forward to many more. I lift my glass of wine tonight in a toast to Lisa Marie who is gone too soon.