Friday Hometown Shoot Out -- Spires, Weathervanes, "Tops"

Afternoon clouds top the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston

BUTLER: "Wait a minute, Mark.  This is just a skyscape.  I don't think it really meets this weeks criteria."

"Sure it does," I argue.  "The bridge is beautiful but plain on top and needs something eye-catching over it."

BUTLER:  "Personally, Mark, I think you just like this picture and your ego has rationalized a way to insert it, regardless of the theme."

BAGMAN: "Yeah!  Just try'in to show off!"

Temporary Tops while building Ravenel Bridge (2004)

"Okay," I reply.  "How about this?  It's a structure, maybe temporary, but it was on top of the bridge for awhile.  And it's an ugly picture so you can't accuse me of having an ego."

BUTLER: "You still have an ego!  You will always have an ego.  So just admit it and stop trying to be cute and do some steeples and weathervanes."

Charleston skyline

 Looking at the skyline closely, I think I can count 7 steeples.  Charleston's knickname as far back as 1800 has been "The Holy City" because of the number of church steeples.  Today, people in other parts of South Carolina still call it "The Holy City" but they say it with great sarcasm and really mean "The Holier Than Thou City."  It's not just envy.  Charleston does have a huge number of holier than thou politicians.  It is a city with a bigger ego than mine.

BUTLER: "Don't forget that you chose to live here!"

"But I'm trying to move," I protest. "But I give up.  Here are some straightforward looking up shots.

Church Steeple

(If I was Scriptor, I'd know which church this was

and also the whole history of it.)

Church steeple with weathervane on top!

Some buildings have flags on top

The Regal Cinema in N. Charleston sends color upward

BUTLER: "You beginning to stretch it again, Mark."

"Why are you so critical today, Butler?"

BUTLER: "It's my job."

"I think you need a vacation."

Nature puts things on top

 

Looking up at some buildings, you just find advertisements.

(Boston, 1971)

BUTLER: "Hey!  Not your home town!"

"It was once!"

BAGMAN: "And boy did we raise hell there!!  I remember that street.  Our favorite bar was around the corner!"

BUTLER: "I'm surprised you were able to focus!"

As usual, I've reached the point where I just start ignoring my nagging colleagues and posting despite their bickering.

Reflection of a building top -- or spire -- or something

(Dallas, 1976)

This is a monument that "tops" and entire city

(Brigham Young overlooking Salt Lake City, 1987)

I ignore Butler and Bagman as they mutter, buy tickets to Tahiti, pack their bags, and leave to go on vacation, slamming the door behind themselves.

Continuing unperturbed -- But nobody decorates the looking up places like the Italiens.

And a statue of Christ on top of the Vatican --

Front

Back

As I come to the end of my blog, it dawns on me how quiet it is.  I try to tell myself that I don't miss Butler and Bagman already.  I also kick myself for not having gone with them.