By William W. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DOWNTOWN - Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley's teen bride and later a successful actress, author and businesswoman, recounted her whirlwind life Tuesday night to a near-capacity crowd at the Aronoff Center.

"Elvis and Me" was the title of Priscilla Presley's 45-minute talk, part of the Smart Talk Women's Lecture Series.

"I'm here to share with you the life I've been so fortunate to have, including my formative years with Elvis," Presley told the predominantly female audience. "I honestly wouldn't change it for the world."

Presley said she first met Elvis when she was a 14-year-old "Air Force brat" living with her parents in Wiesbaden, West Germany.

"He was more handsome than he looked in films," she recalled.

When she went to the airport to say goodbye to Elvis when his Army hitch was up, her life changed forever, Presley said.

"My life with Elvis was never public until I showed up at the airport. Suddenly being thrust into the public was confusing."

Two years later Elvis invited her to visit him in Los Angeles.

"The spark was rekindled," Presley said.

She eventually moved in with Elvis, then married him and the couple had a daughter, Lisa Marie.

The pressures of Elvis' stardom and his dependence on prescription drugs lead to their "amicable divorce" in 1973, she said.

"Elvis and I had a loving relationship," she recalled.

After her divorce, she and a partner opened a clothing store, which started her career, Presley said.

Presley was the first speaker in the Smart Talk Women's Lecture Series presented by The Cincinnati Enquirer. Other speakers are Star Jones (Feb. 3), Mariane Pearl (March 23), Suze Orman (May 18), and Goldie Hawn (June 1).

For tickets call 241-7469.

E-mail bweathers@enquirer.com.