Notre Dame cast a spell on my heart. Her beauty brings me to tears regardless of whether I am blessed to be standing in her presence or simply recalling her mysteries with others. My beloved—this is how I have grown to address this UNESCO World Heritage site, a physical landmark that embodies myriad national, cultural and personal histories and emotional importance for millions of people across the globe. But to me, Our Lady is MY LOVE. Personal. A part of MY Being. How could it be my love changed her form forever? It was, after all, Notre Dame that inspired me to photograph and study the churches of Paris for the past three years.
As the horror of the fire took grew, I realized Notre Dame’s destruction changed my life forever. The flames brought home two profound teachings aka clichés into stark realization: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today and trust yourself.
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