The Notre Dame fire is a roofer's worst fear come to life

[hlthe2b]

1. One of my favorite houses in Denver's Capitol Hill erupted in flames during roofing repair

I was staying next door with friends. At the time I thought surely they would have contracted with the very best (this was a very expensive old stately home) and just thought it inexplicable this could happen. Since then, I've found how very vulnerable are these structures during renovations of nearly any kind.

I remain heart-broken but I know those workers and firefighters are as well. All we can do is hope for the best and especially that the best of the best can come together to ensure the work to restore is worthy of history and the $$ are there to do it right (as seems likely given current donations).

And since I know there will be a few who think that kind of $$ spent on a historical Cathedral is indefensible or who believe that its ties to Catholicism should render it unworthy of all the sadness and attention, I merely say to you that you do not understand. The times I spent sitting quietly in that wonderful place gave me a sense of peace and overwhelming history that can scarcely be replicated. And, I say this from a very secular point of view.