I had just finished up my paperwork.

Monday nights I normally stayed around until 10pm playing catch-up from the weekend.

Because it was the day before Daniel's birthday,

I wanted to go home and kiss him goodnight.

Read him a story, tell him I love him.

I arrive at home, kiss my little boy goodnight and around 8pm, the phone rings.

My best friend.

"The Wooden Crate is on fire..

I can see tons of smoke, but it looks like its just The Wooden Crate"

Since we share a retail floor space,

I know in my heart that if it's on fire..so is my shop.

At this time, i'm 25 mins away if I drive really really fast.

I tell her i'll be there as soon as I can.

Grab Daniel out of bed(no socks..no coat just wrapped in a blanket)

Put Steve in the drivers seat and off to Cadillac we go.

The calls have now just begun.

"The entire building is now on fire"

I can't breathe.

We come over the hill and can see the smoke 3 blocks away.

I arrive in downtown Cadillac to find 8 firetrucks lined up outside of my shop.

Smoke is everywhere.

The car isn't quite parked and i'm out.

Gotta find someone.

A friendly face.

I need to know whats going on.

I see Jen. My best friend.
And i'm immediently in tears. Is this really happening?
It's sprinkling and cold. Normal October weather.

I'm freezing, yet I can't feel anything.

People try to give me coats. I'm ok.

Hand Daniel off to her,

She takes him to her place where its warm(and only a block away)

I just want to stand here.

For 3 hours we stand on the opposite side of the street and watch.

Watch all the hard work. The sweat. The weekends. The nights.

We had just worked around the clock a month ago to move into the

new building. Everyone had helped. I was so excited.

This move would be great for my business.

And 46 days later...it was gone.

I've spent the last year dealing with insurance people that I trusted

to provide me with the coverage I needed.

I believed since they knew

their job they would take care of me.

They didn't.

Trust and Insurance companies shouldn't be in the same sentence.

12 months later.

My heart is still broken.

I did learn alot.

And I loved owning my little shop.

Maybe someday i'll think about it, and not tear up...