Darling's Roof

I attend First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, and I decided to bring that up because of the amazing things that have been happening there during the past sixteen months. The two-hundred year-old Gothic-style sanctuary has been restored from top to bottom, and that includes a stunning new slate roof.

While it was being worked on last fall, I spent time with the couple who carried each of the tiles to the roof one-at-a-time. Look at the top of the ladder in the picture on the left to see how scary that must have been.

I looked into the weight of slate roofs and learned that a 100-square-foot section weighs between 800 to 1200 pounds. I also learned that a 12-by-12 inch tile weighs approximately eight-pounds and costs $36.

The couple was there for days and days. Their ate their lunches there and at her husband's request, I helped her find a proper ladies room so she wouldn't have to share a Port-a-Potty with the construction men.

I'm ashamed to admit that I no longer remember his name, but I'll always remember hers: "Her name is Darling," he said. "She is my darling."