Flying to Memphis, TN on a late Friday afternoon, we didn't know what to expect. Our good friends Marty and Maggie Silver, from Jericho, had invited us to their grandson Alexander's Bar Mitzvah in Memphis. As I have always stated, "Invite us and we will come." The Silvers are a dynamic couple and anything they touch has a sense of "class."

The Bar Mitzvah was quite an eye opener. It was held in an Orthodox Synagogue (Anshei Sphard Beth El Emeth). Royal purple and silver were the decor colors. It was a huge high-domed semicircle but it exuded warmth and friendship.

Alexander Harkavy led the service in a calm, professional manner. At the age of 13 he showed a maturity and confidence which today's youth would declare as "awesome."

The post-services toast was made with a smooth, single malt scotch and the luncheon was a true tribute to southern hospitality. And now for a bit of Memphis tourism. A taxi ride took us to Memphis' major attraction: Graceland - the home of Elvis Presley.

Elvis was born in Tupelo, MS on January 8, 1935. His parents were dirt poor and Elvis promised he would buy them the best house in town. At 22 years of age, in 1957, for $102,000 he bought them Graceland.

The house itself is not imposing but it sits on a 500-acre farm. Many Long Island homes are larger, but Elvis had his own ideas on furnishing the home he loved to return to after a movie or a singing tour.

Some interesting furnishings:

* two large stained glass peacocks

* 1970 shag carpeting throughout

* baby grand piano (that he composed on)

* three side by side TVs in the den (Elvis heard that President Lyndon Johnson watched all the major networks at once and Elvis, not to be outdone, could watch three football games at once.)

* pool table room - complete with torn cloth, from his friend trying a trick shot; 350-yards of colorful pleated fabric draped the walls and ceiling.

* the jungle room - Hawaiian style. Elvis loved Hawaii.

* A collection of Elvis guns. His favorite was a turquoise-handled 45 with an E. and P. on the gun handle.

* The pasture - Elvis kept horses. He presented Priscilla (his wife) a horse named Domino in 1966. He also gave each of his friends a horse. The barn was named "House of the Rising Sun."

* Hall of Gold - Gold and platinum records (overall he sold over a billion records worldwide - more than any other artist.) Even today he sells a lot of records.

* Elvis Army uniforms - (He made sergeant and served in Germany for 18 months.)

* Racquetball court - On August 16, 1977 he played racquetball, sang a few songs for his friends (Unchained Melody and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain) and died a few hours later. Elvis was 42 years old.

Elvis, his father, his mother and grandmother are buried in the Meditation Garden along with a marker for his twin brother Jesse who died at birth in Tupelo.

That evening and the next morning we were graciously invited to sumptuous meals. In the evening there was music, drinks and wonderful food at the Harkavy home.

Our weekend in Memphis, the Bar Mitzvah, and the trip to Graceland was something we looked forward to and it surpassed all our expectations.