When COVID-19 prevented Ben Jackson in Australia from attending his beloved aunt's funeral 250 miles away, he decided to display his love in a unique way.
"At those times of grief, you feel really helpless, you don’t know what to do, what to say,” Jackson shared with Royce Kurmelovs for the Guardian. “Especially in these COVID times, no one can prepare for that border-closure grief, not being able to say cheerio or be there when she passes. It’s pretty difficult."
The sheep farmer from New South Wales decided to use his talent of creating "sheep art" to form a huge love heart made from hundreds of pregnant ewes.
The creative nephew set off in his truck with grains dropping off the back. Once the love heart shape had been formed, he opened the gates to allow the ewes to come out and feed. The result was captured by video on a drone that was then played at the funeral of his Aunty Debby.
As the video played it was accompanied by her favorite song, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel.
It took the dedicated nephew "a few goes to get it right … and the final result is what you see. That was as close to a heart as I could get it," shared Jackson, as reported by Smithsonianmag.
Like many people during the pandemic, the Australian hadn't been able to visit his aunt as she battled cancer over the last two years. The fact that he also couldn't then attend her funeral was doubly frustrating.
The video has gone viral, with over a million people viewing the display of love and affection. Perhaps it's the symbol that so many people are finding comfort in during these times where loved ones have been separated for so long.
"She would be proud as punch to see so many people smiling and enjoying the heart I've made for her. It's just love. Love's sensational," Jackson shared with the BBC.
