Thank you, Elvis, for a lovely evening

November 26, 2008 · 22 comments

Sure, I could blame it on the newest batch of meds, but I prefer to think in some space-time continuum Elvis and I connected.

Elvis Stojko. He has not left the building, as far as I know.

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As in: That Elvis. Don’t step on his blue suede figure skates.

It was the happiest dream I’ve had in months, my peeps.

He was in some outrageously elaborate figure skating show, and the rink was the length of, four, five, football fields.

(Yes, I just used the words ‘figure skating’ and ‘football’ in the same sentence. Yes, I recognize there are stiff cosmic penalties for that, and there does seem to be some sort of hooded black-hole creature hovering outside my window. I’ll deal with that when I let the dogs out in a bit. But right now, I want to tell you that Elvis Stojko and I COMMUNED. We CONNECTED. And it was good and wholesome and pure and sweet, better than couples’ skate at the roller rink when you’re 13.)

Back to the show: I saw in the dream that he was dragging costumes in and out of doors and backstage areas and struggling to get in and out of these insane costumes. It seemed he was putting on a Queen-inspired rock opera on skates. Whatever the case, he had no one helping him.

This seemed wrong. So I wound up leaving my seat and following him from green room to green room to help him into his various costumes. I kept thinking someone would tell me to take my seat again, but no, it was all cool, man. Because Elvis and I were meant to BE.

He smiled as I showed up to help him through each costume change, and we made cute, nervous small talk. He was short, sure, but I’m no skyscraper myself. His hair was redder than it seemed on TV, and I felt mighty proud to be standing in the wings, watching him do his Elvis Thang. Land that quad jump, Elvis! YESSSSS! Your Bohemian Rhapsody outfit STAYED ON! ROCK IT, ELVIS!

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His mom seemed to sense I was helping in some way. She gave me a sweet smile, stood by my side. She and I, well, we didn’t talk, but it was all good, I could tell.

When the show was over, and all the skaters and audience members began filing out of the massive venue with its four zillion changing rooms, I lost sight of Elvis and his mama. My heart! Where had he gone?

I asked someone official where Elvis had gone, and they pointed me to Room 7, which was really a rickety ladder that descended into a dark rat maze of strange basement rooms. I couldn’t find him. My peeps, the devastation was great.

Finally, I lapped my pride up off the floor and headed back up the ladder, out the venue doors, into the sunlight.

And while I stood on a grass sidewalk strip, waiting to cross the busy road to…well, to what? Elvis Stojko appeared to my right. And he smiled most fetchingly, a slow, shy, Yes, I’m a champion men’s figure skater, but I’m not gay, not that there’s anything wrong with it smile.

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He said, “Would you like to go on a date sometime?”

I said, “A date?”

He nodded. A date.

I said, “Why, yes. Yes, I would.”

We beamed at each other.

I woke up then, smiling. No, it wasn’t Clive Owen, or my usual celebrity boyfriend, John Krasinski. But Elvis’s request for a genuine, old-fashioned date made me happy, and happy’s been in short supply of late.

I like to think that, this morning, Elvis Stojko was frantic. I picture him scrolling down his BlackBerry contacts, trying to find the cute, glassy-eyed American brunette he dreamed of last night, the one who didn’t peek as she helped him into the ridiculous outfits.

It’s okay, Elvis. I’m here. Your peeps will find my peeps, and you can give me a call, and you can show me that quad. The jump. I’m a nice girl, after all.

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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Julie November 26, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Holy moly, that is one fantastic dream. Are you a big dream interpreter person? I wonder what symbolism you find in it, although Elvis Stojko is fabulous enough to be his own damn symbol, knowwhatimean?

Before this post, I think the last time Elvis Stojko crossed my mind was > 5 years ago. Thank you for bringing him back to my consciousness!

2 Bad Mummy November 26, 2008 at 1:38 pm

I’m Canadian, you know. We all know each other; I could make some calls. Hook you up. We’re friendly that way.

3 Procrastamom November 26, 2008 at 1:51 pm

I love you for writing this. When we were away from BC visiting Ontario last month, we passed Richmond Hill – Elvis’s hometown – on the highway. It was all I could do not to jump out of the speeding car on the 401 and run around knocking on every door until I found him. Mmmmm, an Elvis dream….you lucky girl, you.

4 Mary M November 26, 2008 at 2:04 pm

I think you are amazing, your writing moves me more than I can ever say. I heard a song on the radio today and you immediately came to mind. If you get a chance listen to Tim McGraw’s song, “Let it Go”.

5 katieface November 26, 2008 at 3:09 pm

i’m actually not surprised to hear that your first good dream involved ice skating. :) was elvis still rockin’ the mullet?

xo-k

6 Heather November 26, 2008 at 3:15 pm

Hey! You gotta start somewhere.

My security code is HYHO.

7 Meghan November 26, 2008 at 3:24 pm

I’m so glad you felt happiness. It doesn’t matter if it was from a dream or from real life. Happiness is happiess. As you feel that feeling a little more and a little more and it’ll creep in and feel normal. I think it was a sweet dream. Glad you’re getting REM sleep, too. That’s healing in itself. Ok, I know I’m a dork.

8 Trish November 26, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Have you seen the movie “Rachel Getting Married?” There is a great, short scene where the sisters recall their Elvis Stoiko fantasies. Kind of eerie, but with this movie, yours is the second one I’ve heard this week!

Mine, personally, have always involved Kurt Browning. :)

9 Jenn November 26, 2008 at 4:24 pm

No way! “Rachel Getting Married” has Elvis Stojko fantasies in it? Okay, that’s a must-see.

Yeah, I always had it bad for Kurt Browning, too. But Elvis stole my heart last night.

10 Meghan November 26, 2008 at 7:28 pm

We always called him “Kurt Browning his undies”. We still act like we’re 12 :)

11 BadKitty November 26, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Wait, Elvis Stojiko isn’t gay?

Seriously?

Huh.

No, for real? Not gay?

Well, I be…

P.S. May I please have some of whatever meds you’re taking because they sound FAB-U-LOUS!!

12 Meredith November 26, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Hook up dreams are the best. Just ask Jon Stewart. Actually, don’t ask him. He doesn’t know I hooked up with him in my dream…

I love that last picture of Elvis. It looks like he’s saying “She said YES!”

13 the Mater November 26, 2008 at 10:33 pm

I think you’re just jealous of my Elvis and your subconscious mind stored our Monday-night conversation when I was telling the girls how much I loved Elvis Presley and his blue-suede shoes. Yep, my Elvis got into your head and played around a little, letting your Elvis appear later and skate back into your heart.

Love me tender, love me true …

14 moxiemomma November 27, 2008 at 1:10 am

*smiles* lovely, lovely, lovely :)

xomox

15 Tracy November 27, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Oh Jenn! Elvis was my first crush. I was in a skating “carnival” with him when I was about 8, and I got to be his partner because we were both short. I don’t think he said a word to me all through rehearsals and the show. AND…to add insult, he invited 2 of my friends over and kissed them both in his barn. Tragedy. Anyway, I agree, he’s a doll. And his mother would adore you.

Be well sweetie. I’m glad you’re having sweet dreams.

16 Velma November 27, 2008 at 9:07 pm

Smiley dreams are awesome. Happy Thanksgiving, Jenn. :)

17 Fairly Odd Mother November 27, 2008 at 9:39 pm

Great dream. I remember when I first saw Elvis, it was a year there was a French skater named Philippe—oh, how I loved Philippe for that season. After that, he went all slick and fussy and the love was gone. Elvis always struck me as more real.

Maybe this was your brain’s way of letting you know that you will be able to fall in love (or at least lust–hey, you gotta start somewhere) again.

18 Deb November 28, 2008 at 3:07 am

Awesome…..my therapist says everyone in your dreams is some part of yourself. LOVE this

19 Spring November 28, 2008 at 1:43 pm

What a delicious, delightful dream! I hope more such dreams will follow…little gifts, just for you :)

20 Neil November 28, 2008 at 10:27 pm

My wife dragged me to three of those Campbell Soup Figure Skating shows, and in each one, Elvis came out, did some booty shaking, waved, and the audience went wild. Except… he hardly did any real figure skating. I’m not sure why I am telling you this story, other than pure jealousy. I wish I could go to a job where I wave a little and get paid for it.

21 patois November 29, 2008 at 1:37 am

Girl, you remember more about your dreams than I remember about my day.

22 Abbie December 12, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Why is it that the best dates, and mind blowing sex are all reserved for dreams?

I had to laugh about Tracy’s comment about Elvis kissing her two friends in his barn when she was the one who had the crush on him – not intending it to be mean – just that I could identify with it. There was this guy I went to grade school with, Matt Riordan, ugh, he was georgeous and I had a king sized crush on him. My friend Mary could have cared less about Matt and was tired of hearing me mention his name. One afternoon Mary and I were hanging outside the playground waiting for Matt to get done playing softball – I was working up the nerve to ask him to the Sock Hop at school the following week and my dad drove by and told me I had to go home. The next day I got to school in time to see Matt and Mary kissing at the end of a row of lockers – Broke my heart.

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