Let’s imagine that we are children again. Let’s imagine and feel that we are at Christmas.
We all keep memories of unforgettable experiences in our hearts, but it is difficult to imagine the imprint that his experiences with Elvis could leave on a child, and how Elvis changed his life.
Billy Stanley, his stepbrother, loved Elvis more than anything in the world and, to this day, he continues to treasure those memories and keep his memory alive.
It was a week before Christmas and little Billy was sitting in the study at Graceland, when a worried Sonny West came in and told Elvis that there was a terrible fire, and a woman and her children had lost their house and all their belongings.
When Elvis heard this he immediately told Sonny to get the woman a house, fill it with furniture and food, and buy her a nice Christmas tree full of presents for her and her children.
But as Sonny was leaving, Elvis warned him, “Sonny, if the lady asks you who did this, tell her it was Santa…”
Many years later, in 1985, Billy met that woman. Her name was Suzi, and while they were talking, she was emotionally telling him about what happened to her that day of the fire at Christmas, and that she would never forget it… when suddenly she told him, to his astonishment: “What I didn’t know is that the Elvis’s middle name was Santa…”. They both looked at each other and laughed together… words were unnecessary.
Elvis loved Christmas, it had a very special meaning for him and he wanted every day to be Christmas, because they were magical days, warm home, celebrating love for family and loved ones, gifts for everyone, decoration and Christmas lights… and the world became a better place to live, full of peace and love among men.
“It really is the best time of the year. The Christmas carols, the trees and the Christmas lights just suck you in. There’s something about Christmas and being home that I can’t explain.
Maybe it’s being with family and friends, having time to read and study. And, of course, snowball fights and sleigh rides. Christmas is HOME…”.
That was how Elvis explained his love for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas.
