The song Graceland is a great song. I think it is rich with meaning!! It is the inspiration for today which was submitted by a friend. As I read it and re-read it last night and today I thought about the journeys that we are on and I believe there is a metaphor for heading to Grace-land. 

I especially like the idea that when we are falling , flying, or tumbling in turmoil…it’s what it means to be heading into Graceland. And we are all …. Pilgrims…

Today as Lindsay said goodbye to friends she made in Salamanca all carrying their baggage and their feelings I thought of Paul Simon’s words because they do not paint a picture of getting to Graceland by the easy road, but rather with lots of baggage of one kind or another. 

Then as Lindsay and I made our way from Salamanca to Madrid with 2 backpacks for the Camino plus 1 one large suitcase and 2 more bags of hers to send on ahead of us (one bus, two metros, and walking 2 miles) I was thinking about Pilgrims of old but even more of people today who carry their belongings with them everywhere. Whew!! 

Imagine the scene Lindsay carrying her backpack and pulling a suitcase and another bag, me carrying my backpack and carrying another bag. In the metro station the large suitcase Lindsay was pulling hit a bump going onto the escalator and she caught it but nearly fell, it then tipped into me and I nearly went backwards. I saw our Camino flash before my eyes…ended on a Madrid escalator before it ever really started. 

“Sometimes when I’m falling, flying, tumbling in turmoil, I say Oh this is what she means we are bouncing into Graceland”

I’ve never been to Graceland in Memphis but as many of you know I encounter and trip into Grace (literally and figuratively) everyday. And for this I am grateful. Maybe I will make a pilgrimage to Graceland too. But for now I will keep “falling, flying, tumbling, bouncing…” tripping into Grace. 
The Mississippi Delta was shining

Like a National guitar

I am following the river

Down the highway

Through the cradle of the civil war
I’m going to Graceland

Graceland

In Memphis Tennessee

I’m going to Graceland

Poorboys and Pilgrims with families

And we are going to Graceland

My traveling companion is nine years old

He is the child of my first marriage

But I’ve reason to believe

We both will be received

In Graceland
She comes back to tell me she’s gone

As if I didn’t know that

As if I didn’t know my own bed

As if I’d never noticed

The way she brushed her hair from her forehead

And she said losing love

Is like a window in your heart

Everybody sees you’re blown apart

Everybody sees the wind blow
I’m going to Graceland

Memphis Tennessee

I’m going to Graceland

Poorboys and Pilgrims with families

And we are going to Graceland
And my traveling companions

Are ghosts and empty sockets

I’m looking at ghosts and empties

But I’ve reason to believe

We all will be received

In Graceland
There is a girl in New York City

Who calls herself the human trampoline

And sometimes when I’m falling, flying

Or tumbling in turmoil I say

Oh, so this is what she means

She means we’re bouncing into Graceland

And I see losing love

Is like a window in your heart

Everybody sees you’re blown apart

Everybody feels the wind blow
In Graceland, in Graceland

I’m going to Graceland

For reasons I cannot explain

There’s some part of me wants to see

Graceland

And I may be obliged to defend

Every love, every ending

Or maybe there’s no obligations now

Maybe I’ve a reason to believe

We all will be received

In Graceland

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