Mourning the Loss of Notre Dame

As I prepare to go to bed tonight, flames are still shooting from the top of Notre Dame. The spire has collapsed and the roof of the nave has fallen in.
On Friday, as I walked from our hotel to the train station, I crossed a bridge and saw the beautiful cathedral. I took a picture. It was the last picture I took in Paris.

I can't believe that it will never be the same. 

While Earl and I were spending a few days in Paris, we found ourselves strolling around Notre Dame several times. 

I asked Earl if he had been inside and was surprised to find that he hadn't. I've even attended Mass at Notre Dame. 

We stopped to look at the bells displayed in a line outside. 

New ones were purchased to replace these in celebration of the 850th anniversary. 

850 years! I can't even fathom something that old. 

Our country won't be 800 years old until 2576.

Me trying to coyly pose along with crowds of other people in front of Notre Dame. 

My morning run took me past Notre Dame

You can see the scaffolding around the church where they were working on it. 

I hope that they find the fire was caused by a mistake in the work going on rather than an act of terrorism.

At the same time, I try to imagine a worker with a power tool in hand who started a fire that destroyed an iconic building. That just seems too mundane. 

Paris will never be the same. 

Dreaming of France -- Bon Voyage

Please join this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.
I love seeing my children take off for new adventures, and today, Grace is leaving for five weeks in Europe.
She's starting off in Dublin then on to London before crossing the channel to France. She'll spend time in Paris and Aix en Provence, at least. Who knows where else she'll visit on her great journey.
Here's a picture of her in France during her last visit in 2011.

Doesn't she look so innocent?
I hope she has a terrific time on her latest adventure.
Thanks for playing along with Dreaming of France. Please leave a comment and visit each other's blogs too so you can get your fix of France dreams.

Dreaming of France -- At an Angle

Please join this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.
Maybe we can all satisfy our yearnings for France, until we get there again.
My 17-year-old son arrived in Paris on Easter morning as part of a school trip. I had to beg him to let me follow him on Instagram so I can live vicariously. He tortured me the entire day by not posting anything all Sunday, until finally, around 10 p.m. France time, he threw me a bone with this shot of ...
Well, you're sure to recognize it. 

I hope he sends me a lot more pictures this week.