By the end of the evening, they agreed to put their individual skills to work on a more shrinelike creation. There would be a collage of Elvis pictures, a bust of the King, and possibly something that used the dripping of paint — Butcher's trademark. The result will debut soon on GoMemphis.com.

Meanwhile, I began work on my own shrine.

I'd hoped to create something that expressed the view Memphians have toward their hometown hero, so I started by asking a number of locals what their personal Elvis shrines would look like.

But some don't share the reverential attitude toward the icon that true fans do. When they missed the distinction between shrine and satire, they were asked simply to free-associate to the word "Elvis." The list was familiar: karate, blue suede shoes, gold records, jumpsuits, pink Cadillacs.

I visited local thrift stores in search of appropriate relics, with little success.

And then, one night, I found a battered guitar case on the side of the road.

It was the ideal starting point for my shrine. And, encircled by candles, it will represent my own evolving homage to the King.

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E-mail: blank@thecommercialappeal.com.