The Cathedral of Notre Dame, we weep for you
I first saw what was happening at Notre Dame because a friend is in Paris with her husband celebrating their wedding anniversary and the last kid in college. They saw the smoke and took a picture not quite knowing where it was. Shortly they found out and went to see for themselves.
By that time it was all over the Internet. Photos and video showed the flames on the roof and then we all watched in horror as the Spire fell consumed by the fire.
The world held it collective breath as the firefighters worked very hard to try to contain the blaze trying to keep the damage from fire to a minimum.
There were all kinds of stories flying around about the amount of damage and what had been taken out or not taken out of the church. The plus is that a lot of the statues had been removed for cleaning.
This morning we saw the damage and what was not destroyed. The word miracle is being tossed around but it might be apropos this time around as that both the altar and the Rose Window seem untouched.
17 years ago this coming memorial day weekend, Peter and I were in Europe celebrating our first wedding anniversary. We went to a Star Trek convention in Italy and then a comic book store signing in Paris, France. While in Paris we ran around to see what we could see in a couple of days or rather as much as I could since we had found out before the trip that I was pregnant. Not quite three months so we kept the news to ourselves sort of. It was our immediate families, my supervisor at work, and 300 Italian Star Trek fans. This was before most of the social media that exists now so it stayed among those groups.
One of the places we went was the Cathedral of Notre Dame. While there I lit a candle at the statue of Madonna and Child and prayed that the baby I was carrying would be healthy and happy. On our way out, we saw that they had small statues based on that statue. Peter bought one for me and said, “We can put this in our room.” That statue gave me comfort. Once Caroline was born, that statue was always over her bed from cradle to crib to toddler bed to the bed she sleeps in today.
(For the VI: This is a photo of a shelf over Caroline’s bed. The statue of Madonna and Child is a metal statue. Leaning up against it is a cross that belonged to my maternal Grandmother. To the right is a ceramic Dalmatian dog Caroline painted at least 10 years ago.)
I can still remember the feeling of energy of that church. The hushed tones everyone was talking in. The stain glass windows and the craftsmanship in wood and stone were amazing to look at. I have only felt that sort of energy a couple of places on this planet.
It may be a video game that will allow them to recreate what had been lost. For Assassin’s Creed, they did a detailed laser scan of the whole building so they could recreate it within the game. These measurements are within 3 mm of the original. So video games are good for something apparently.
It will be rebuilt and now has another piece of history to add to all the history that has happened there. They can even put in fire prevention equipment. Many years down the road maybe Caroline will visit there and see the statue that I lit a candle for her and light one for her own child.
I am grateful that no one died and pray for the firefighter who was seriously injured trying to put the fire out.
By that time it was all over the Internet. Photos and video showed the flames on the roof and then we all watched in horror as the Spire fell consumed by the fire.
The world held it collective breath as the firefighters worked very hard to try to contain the blaze trying to keep the damage from fire to a minimum.
There were all kinds of stories flying around about the amount of damage and what had been taken out or not taken out of the church. The plus is that a lot of the statues had been removed for cleaning.
This morning we saw the damage and what was not destroyed. The word miracle is being tossed around but it might be apropos this time around as that both the altar and the Rose Window seem untouched.
17 years ago this coming memorial day weekend, Peter and I were in Europe celebrating our first wedding anniversary. We went to a Star Trek convention in Italy and then a comic book store signing in Paris, France. While in Paris we ran around to see what we could see in a couple of days or rather as much as I could since we had found out before the trip that I was pregnant. Not quite three months so we kept the news to ourselves sort of. It was our immediate families, my supervisor at work, and 300 Italian Star Trek fans. This was before most of the social media that exists now so it stayed among those groups.
One of the places we went was the Cathedral of Notre Dame. While there I lit a candle at the statue of Madonna and Child and prayed that the baby I was carrying would be healthy and happy. On our way out, we saw that they had small statues based on that statue. Peter bought one for me and said, “We can put this in our room.” That statue gave me comfort. Once Caroline was born, that statue was always over her bed from cradle to crib to toddler bed to the bed she sleeps in today.
(For the VI: This is a photo of a shelf over Caroline’s bed. The statue of Madonna and Child is a metal statue. Leaning up against it is a cross that belonged to my maternal Grandmother. To the right is a ceramic Dalmatian dog Caroline painted at least 10 years ago.)
I can still remember the feeling of energy of that church. The hushed tones everyone was talking in. The stain glass windows and the craftsmanship in wood and stone were amazing to look at. I have only felt that sort of energy a couple of places on this planet.
It may be a video game that will allow them to recreate what had been lost. For Assassin’s Creed, they did a detailed laser scan of the whole building so they could recreate it within the game. These measurements are within 3 mm of the original. So video games are good for something apparently.
It will be rebuilt and now has another piece of history to add to all the history that has happened there. They can even put in fire prevention equipment. Many years down the road maybe Caroline will visit there and see the statue that I lit a candle for her and light one for her own child.
I am grateful that no one died and pray for the firefighter who was seriously injured trying to put the fire out.