I always wanted to live in Nashville.
Where else can you go to see a band play, and when the bass guitarist is late for the encore and the lead singer asks, “Is there a bass player in the house?,” a dozen people rush forward? And someone not only jumps on stage but counts off the next song and plays it through?
Where else can you picnic next to a full-blown replica of the Greek Parthenon? Or see live music every day of the week? Or strike up a conversation with a woman at the airport who tells you she’s named her baby “Titan,” because that’s how much she loves the home team?
It’s a big city with a small-town heart. A city of neighbors.
Three weeks ago, we were expecting a few thunderstorms. The kind you think might knock out your electricity or cable for a few minutes. Jeff and I were straightening the house, getting things ready for company that night, when the rain started.
At first, everyone was making jokes about Noah’s Ark being rediscovered just in time. Hours later, our eyes were glued to the TV as we saw people being rescued in boats from their homes and cars.
Some weren’t saved.
It just happened so fast.
About fifteen inches in 36 hours. Historic flooding.
More than 40 counties across Tennessee have been declared disaster areas. People lost their homes, businesses, pets, cars, crops, photo albums. We’ve got about $1.5 billion in damage to Nashville alone.
A few days after the flood, when it was safe to drive, I was sitting at a stop sign and noticed a bride walking down her front steps. My first thought was, “Why on earth didn’t they postpone the wedding?” But then a few friends or family members came rushing out of the bride’s front door and surrounded her, lifting the edges of her wedding gown to keep it from touching the wet grass.
We move forward, because no matter the circumstances, we have each other.
So, I’m asking you to do what you can to help your neighbors in Nashville and across Middle Tennessee. We need you.
- Say a prayer.
- Order a $1 “Love Your Neighbor” sticker.
- Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation on your mobile phone.
- Donate online to the Middle Tennessee Red Cross.
- Pick up a “We Are Nashville” t-shirt.
- Volunteer with Hands on Nashville.
- And, plan a trip to Nashville! We’re open for business, and we’d love to have you.
P.S. Thank you all so much for the overwhelming number of e-mails asking if we were OK after the flood. We are very grateful not to have suffered any damage to our home. I’ll never complain about push-mowing uphill again.
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Wonderful post! I'll probably be Nashville-bound soon!
Good to see ya, Rebecca. Never stopped praying for you.
I am glad you are okay. I would love to visit Nashville one. It is on my to do list.
We love Nashville! My friends and I come down every year (from Illinois) for the Americana Music Festival, we can't wait until the next time! Another friend of ours was there just last week, and he did volunteer and helped pack meals at a church, as well as going to see all the fabulous artists still performing! We are friends with a number of musicians in the area. You will not be forgotten!
I am also making your Charleston Shrimp & Grits for our little family party when people are down here for my younger son's HS graduation on Sunday. Thanks for the update!
Definitely come visit Nashville! Great food, great music, great people. What's not to love?
And a beautiful post to boot!
Glad to read that you're okay!
~ingrid
How sad for those who suffered loss. Glad to hear you made it through. We will do our part to help and will definately visit again.
Thank you for posting the links. Glad to hear you are ok!
MISSED YOU! So glad you are safe.
I just moved back to Nashville and was almost stuck at a TA station that Saturday when the rain started. I initially thought I'd wait it out, but when it became clear to my family sitting at home watching the news that it wasn't going to get better, only worse, they broke out the big jacked up truck affectionately nicknamed Ellie May, the one that rides like a drunken camel, and came to rescue me. Luckily we made it home though we had to turn around and around because of closed roads. I'm glad you made it through ok as well. I was so surprised by the amount of damage that happened. It's amazing and humbling when mother nature reminds us just how little in control we are of our world.
And yeah, I'm looking forward to exploring Nashville and the surrounding area. do you have any suggestions for must see/do things?