by Ginger Alden
My mother proudly serving her country. The photo was taken when she first entered the army in 1943.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
My sister Rosemary, Dad, Mom, my sister Terry, and me during the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September of 1976. We couldn’t have been any more proud of Terry!
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
My brother, Mike, inside Elvis’s JetStar, heading to Las Vegas on what was my family’s first trip to see one of Elvis’s shows.
Photo courtesy of Jo Alden
Elvis’s personal identification bracelet that he wore for many years and surprisingly gifted me with on our first flight together to Las Vegas.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Elvis’s wonderful sense of humor shows in a couple of personal checks made out to me. My father had given Elvis a dime so he could make a phone call when he entered the army. I couldn’t help but smile remembering my dad’s story when Elvis gave me the Christmas check for ten cents.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Elvis and me holding hands, with Ed Parker in the foreground, after arriving in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 31, 1976, before his New Year’s Eve show. Usually shy about being photographed, I was also sad here because my grandfather had just passed away the day before.
Photo courtesy of BobKleinMedia.com
Elvis onstage during his New Year’s Eve show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 31, 1976. It was a fantastic show! I was so proud of his performance and happy that he was wearing the cross necklace I had given him for Christmas.
Taken by Donna Gaffin, from the Russ Howe Collection
Elvis and me walking toward my parents’ Lincoln Continental, leaving the Ramada Inn in Harrison, Arkansas, on January 3, 1977. We had earlier returned to the Ramada after my grandfather’s funeral.
Photo by Bill Doshier Jr., courtesy of Harrison Daily Times, Harrison, Arkansas
Elvis entering my parents’ Lincoln Continental after my grandfather’s funeral. He had changed into the jeweled robe that he so often loved to wear.
Photo by Bill Doshier Jr., courtesy of Harrison Daily Times, Harrison, Arkansas
Right after asking me to marry him, Elvis surprised me with this beautiful engagement ring at Graceland on January 26, 1977.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
One of four Valentine’s Day cards Elvis surprised me with on tour in February of 1977. His special personal note to me is written inside.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
The Cadillac Seville Elvis gifted me with after his father didn’t want it. I so loved this car!
Photo courtesy of Terry Alden
Elvis singing to my sister Rosemary on the beach in Hawaii.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
My sister Terry, Elvis, and me having a great time while relaxing on the beach in Hawaii.
Photo courtesy of Rosemary Alden
An employee contact list from late April 1977. On this tour, Elvis had invited many people to see his shows, including my mother, my sister Rosemary, Elvis’s cousins, and the wives and girlfriends of some of Elvis’s family and staff.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
A hotel list on which Elvis wrote, “Come back here,” shortly before I left a tour for a few days in May of 1977.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Elvis leaving our hotel, with me in front followed by Joe Esposito and Sam Thompson. We were heading for the Macon Coliseum in Georgia on June 1, 1977.
Photo courtesy of Keith Alverson
My magnificent diamond TLC necklace that Elvis had made for me. It stood for tender loving care . . .
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Lisa Presley and my niece Amber in the summer of 1977 in the music room of my parents’ home in Memphis. Lisa enjoyed playing around on the piano.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Me and my Great Dane, Odyssey, in July of 1977 at Audubon Park in Memphis. He was my “gentle giant.”
Photo courtesy of Terry Alden
Elvis’s ninth-degree black belt karate certificate, which he picked out and gave to me for no special reason while we were walking through his trophy room one day. He told me he didn’t want to try for the rank of tenth degree because “there was nowhere to go after that.”
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Elvis and me leaving the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 26, 1977. This was the last concert Elvis would perform on tour.
Photo courtesy of Keith Alverson
Elvis’s beautiful words that he wrote to me on the back of a photo while visiting my parents’ home on August 6, 1977.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
Elvis, Lisa, and me returning to Graceland on August 12, 1977, after a private screening of the movie The Spy Who Loved Me.
Photo courtesy of Shantay Wood
A poem I wrote not long after Elvis passed away.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Alden
