I didn’t know that heartbreak was something you could see. But let me tell you, it is. When you see three generations of family, tradition and agriculture burned to the ground, that is visible heartbreak.

Our beautiful barn that could once been seen from any four given angles, now has daylight shining through from side-to-side and end-to-end. 

The barn walk that I spent my life on, can’t even be seen through the ashy rubble.

We used to have a window that faced Highway 69. Every morning during milking I would curse that window because the sun would glare in my eyes as I moved down the walk. Now, I’d give anything to have that window back and to stand on the walk one more time. If only the glare of the sun was my biggest problem.

Words can’t even begin to explain the scene of destruction. This is odd for me, because it is through words that I write and express myself.

Today, the ashes still smolder and the smell of smoke is a harsh reminder of the realities that we face.

The only words I can use to try to describe this scene to you, is visible heartbreak. 

Heartbreak is something that I am familiar with. Every time you lose someone you love, or have to say goodbye to your favorite show cow, your heart breaks. Until today, heartbreak was physical pain inside your chest, hidden from the rest of the world. Today, for the very first time, I witnessed visible heartbreak.