More than $700 million in committed donations poured in Tuesday to rebuild the damaged portions of the cathedral with major help from some of the richest families in France.

It came amid a sigh of relief after fears that the building might burn to the ground were assuaged and many historic artifacts, initially assumed to be destroyed, were found salvaged.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a televised address to the nation Tuesday evening, made a call to unity and to set aside political differences in the coming days to work to rebuild the cathedral.

Throughout French history, he said, towns, forts and churches have burned from revolutions, wars or mankind, “and each time we have rebuilt.”

“We are rebuilders,” he said. “There’s a great deal to be rebuilt. And we will make the cathedral of Notre Dame even more beautiful. We can do this and we will mobilize everybody.

“I share your sorrow and I also share your hope. Now we have something to do. We will act and react. And we will succeed.”

For me, the most “inspirational” edifice has always been the Sistine Chapel located in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the pope, in Vatican City.

“The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescos that decorate the interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo.” -Wikipedia

By DNA, my first love is music (runs in the blood generations deep). But my 2nd love is art.

I love working with charcoal, oils, acrylics and inks. And long before I knew of -and fell in love with- the music of D’angelo, I knew of Michelangelo and had fallen in love with pretty much all of his works. The works of Leonardo da Vinci run a close 2nd.

If anything was ever to happen to the Sistine Chapel I would be absolutely devastated. Just done.

And wonders of wonder. Apparently even Trump tv networks (CNN and MSNBC) considered the burning of Notre Dame de Paris an important enough story to interrupt their 24/7 coverage of *all-things-Trump* to provide coverage of the fire…and in real time.

I watched the fire online yesterday (while at work) shortly after the news broke. And I must admit – it was heart-wrenching watching the flames engulf such a rare structure. I’ve always viewed the Cathedral as more than “one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.” It’s a masterful and (given all it’s been through) resilient work of art.

And this fire is indeed a real tragedy….smh.