Nashville Rising: The Great Flood of 2010
If you don’t live in Nashville, the recent flooding may be news to you. Unfortunately, it has been overlooked by much of the national media until recently. We are now a week out, and the level of devastation is really starting to sink in.
Many people have completely lost their homes. Much of the downtown area was underwater. The famous Opryland Hotel has had to decline visitors at least through October to get the cleanup process underway after the 10 feet of water that swept through and left a thick layer of mud after the water receeded.
When you drive through the suburbs, you see endless piles of trash and debris that was once the makings of people’s homes. It’s a sobering reminder of just how easy life can change in an instant.
The great thing about this tragic event has been the action of countless volunteers. People are driving in herds to the other side of town to help people they don’t know. It’s an amazing thing to see, and it says a lot about this grand city we call home.
You don’t have to live in Nashville to help. There are plenty of ways to make monetary donations or item donations to those who lost so much by this event.
One thing I love about Nashville is the graphic design community. In a matter of a day or two, multiple graphics were created for tshirts and posters all to benefit the flood victims. Here is a list of some of the items available. I did not create any of these… just passing it along for the greater good
Click on the image to be taken to the purchasing site:
If I had only known
We’ve all been there… grabbing something and tossing it into the shopping cart on impulse, the unfortunate occurrence of being persuaded into a purchase that you know you will never use in your lifetime, giving into the temptation of accepting a credit card offer, only to find out that the interest rate is ridiculous, and if you are even a day late, there is a preposterous late fee that automatically will send your account into the red. Yes, I’m talking about DEBT.
I recently read that the number of credit card defaults are now in record numbers. That doesn’t surprise me with the numerous other kinds of debt going on in our country. It seems like before long, we will all run out of money to borrow and spend. We may have nothing available to us at all to help us climb out of this deep, dark hole we find ourselves in.
I’m not a big spender, in any stretch of the word. I am able to scrape by on a relatively small paycheck. I really wish I had been more wise with my money when I was younger. It is something you learn with experience, I guess. I’m now faced with the problem of how to finance my education (round 2).
I ran across this site:
It is one of many places that offer financial support. Even though the link is specifically for Auto Warranty, they have all sorts of assistance. I’m going to look into it and see if I can get some sort of handle on the mess I’ve made. If you, too, find yourself on the slippery slope of debt, do something about it before it gets too big to tackle.
I guess it’s time
First of all… there are some new photos to check out. I did my first pet photoshoot with my cousins’ dogs. Surprising enough, there are some really cute ones. I didn’t think the dogs sat still long enough to get anything at all, but they sure were cute in their little Christmas outfits. Take a look:
You can see larger images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sallykent2006/
Ok, so it’s been a while since I’ve updated this here blog. I am back from my Thanksgiving trip to the north GA mountains. It was the first time since I’ve lived in Nashville (almost 9 years!?) that my parents haven’t come to Nashville for Thanksgiving. I guess it sort of became a tradition without us really meaning for it to. At first my mom was so anxious and worried about me traveling alone that she didn’t want me to make the drive for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. That was the compromise we came up with.
I am so thankful for so many things that I can hardly put it into words. If I start, then I might not stop. I am constantly astonished and amazed at the good things I have been given in life that I don’t at all deserve.
I think that is what makes me hold back when I am having to face such contradicting emotions. The past couple of years have been difficult, just because of having to watch my mom’s health decline. It is something none of us were prepared for. Yet, still I am so thankful that there are people, and skilled doctors, and believers out there that have had the wisdom and knowledge, and energy to do things when I have not.
So, all of that to say… even when I don’t have the energy to give thanks, I am thankful. If you are out there, and you are a part of my life in any way, know that you are on the list of things I am thankful for.
the Beginning of the End
Well, we finally made it back around to the holiday season. At this time tomorrow, people will begin their journeys to countless retail stores to get the first pick at the hot deals. This officially begins the Christmas season, as well as the final leg of the year 2007.
Actually this is the first time since I’ve been “on my own” that I’ve come back to Georgia for Thanksgiving. Normally, my parents make their annual voyage up to Nashville for their Thanksgiving visit. This year, due to my mom’s cancer, I decided to come down here instead to save them the trip.
This time of year is always bittersweet for me. This year more so than usual, but I can’t really articulate just why. I will have to take some time and really reflect before I can write much about it all.
As of now, it is time for me to turn in for the evening. Tomorrow morning I will be helping out in the kitchen, trying not to completely ruin Thanksgiving dinner with my horrible cooking skills. My family is known for cooking huge meals. This time will be no different.
I am really looking forward to some great food! I’m sure there will be a football game on at some point. I want to make a point to watch part of the parade, and see the huge tree be lit in NY.
My thoughts feel disconnected tonight. I need sleep. And I need to be able to breathe. That’s always a good thing. For the past couple of days I have felt like I’m coming down with a cold. That always leads to chest congestion and awful breathing problems. I’ve started on some medication and have been trying to drink a lot of water and hot tea. I hope I can keep it at bay. We’ll see how that goes.
The leaves were gorgeous on my drive from TN. Here are a few shots I took out my car window as I drove down the interstate. I will leave you with these:
Until next time…
May visions of turkey legs dance in all of our heads tonight
Fall on the Natchez Trace
Yesterday was a fun day! I was feeling good, which was a welcomed change. With all of the weather grossness, my breathing has been pretty rough. I have a tendency to over do it the second I’m feeling some relief.
I desperately needed to get out! I was starting to feel the tug of cabin fever, and I knew the winter blues were not far away.
So, a couple of friends and I piled into my car and took a drive. We trapsed out the Natchez Trace, which is a scenic roadway that runs from Nashville down to Tupelo, MS. Parts of the “Old Trace” are still visible, and walkable. It dates back to the days of pioneers and indians, and all of the bartering and trading that made Nashville what it is today. There are little historic stops along the way. I am a lover of history. I love to see how everything is connected, and discovering how something so mundane from so long ago somehow affects who I am today.
The scenery is gorgeous out that way. The farther you go, the more scenic it becomes. I was hoping for some pretty fall foliage. I was not disappointed!
when things aren’t what they seem
Let’s face it… we all jump to conclusions. It’s really easy to interpret something totally backwards, and opposite of how it was intended. Quite often people miscommunicate because they act too quickly on what they think someone meant by what was said.
I just watched a movie called The Reaping. I was skeptical, and it didn’t blow me away. The plot had me intrigued when I read it in Blockbuster. It is about a girl (Hilary Swank) who works at scientifically explaining different myths. She works to find the logic and reasonable explanations to what some think are unexplained miracles. Then suddenly, there are plagues that overtake a small town, and she goes to investigate. Everyone is blaming a young girl for bringing the plagues to their home, and some sort of witch hunt ensues.
Over the course of the movie, I went from mildly interested, to bored and unconvinced. But, as the story continued to go on my interest got the best of me. I watched as the truth about the girl was revealed, and what that really meant for the small town she called home.
Things are rarely as they seem. I always try to remember that, but it’s way too easy to jump to conclusions. It leaves me again realizing my need of a God with infinite wisdom to snap me back into that reality.
So I’m learning to give things a chance. It takes a conscious effort to take a step back when I feel my mind jumping ahead of my heart. It’s something I need to remember to do more often.
I’m also learning that I’m a big fan of Hilary Swank!
Jaggity Lantern video
Check out a video I made when Alexander and I took a trip to the pumpkin farm.
how much is enough?
In my line of work, I’m constantly around people that need help. More specifically, I’m constantly around people that come to me for help. More often than not, I feel pretty inadequate in my ability to give them what they need. It’s quite a helpless feeling. The things is, I’m not sure that they really know what it is they need exactly. They just know that something has to change.
How many of us are in that same boat? I know I am. I’m not necessarily looking for a right answer, I just need someone to help me get started. More than anything, it helps to know that I’m not alone.
I rarely have any answers, for myself or anyone else. I’m not sure life works that way. Strangely, I’m noticing that the less I feel responsibility to “do” something, the more helpful I can actually be.
Sometimes its not in having the right answer. As a matter of fact, there rarely is an answer. Everything is a process. What people really want is someone to be with them to walk through that process, or to help them take the very first step that may seem so daunting.
I think if we can get away from feeling such a need to have the right answer, only then can we really get down to what it’s all truly about.
the person I’m not
I’ve come to realize that the reasons I love fall are plentiful. I love the welcomed change that the season brings. I love the chill in the air, and the crunch of the leaves underneath your feet. I love the colors that surround you as the leaves change. And even though I am not a big fan of the dark (just ask my roomates! I don’t like going out at night) something about the darkness creeping in a little earlier is comforting. It almost helps me unwind for the night a little easier. It inspires me to light my candles and enjoy a book and a glass of wine by the soft glow of the flickering flames.
Halloween is also something I’ve always looked forward to. I know there are so many thoughts on this holiday, but I’m not sure it is appreciate as much as it should be.
Last night I went to Ghouls at Grassmere with my buddy, Alexander, his mom Melinda, and one of their little neighbors, Thomas. There were mini ghouls and goblins walking around everywhere. There were bonfires, and hayrides, and plenty of walking. I have sore feet to prove it and can barely walk today. And who can forget about the candy so plentiful that each and every child was having a sugar induced manic episode.
But I think my favorite part of all was that I got to pretend to be someone I’m not. As an adult, I’ve never really been into dressing up. But over the past few years I’ve gotten used to the idea that it might not be so bad after all. Last night I transformed myself into a punk rocker. Anyone who knows me knows how “normal” I am (and by normal, I mean boring and bland). I am admittedly the least hip person in the world, and I’m ok with that. I prefer my jeans and collared shirt pretty much every day of the week, as long as I can change back into my lounge pants and tshirt as soon as I get back home. But last night I really went all out: Pink and black hair, fake lip/nose piercings, tattoo sleeves, heavy black eyeliner and lipstick. I sort of freaked myself out. But I was so surprised at how much I was able to let my guard down. It’s something I don’t realize is so prevalent in my life until it subsides for a little while. I got some weird looks from people trying to figure out if my piercings were real. I had a couple of people come up and look at my tattoos in awe, only to realize they were fake. For a brief moment of my life, I was part of the edgy crowd. If I had run across anyone I knew, they probably would have no idea who I was. But then, maybe I did run into people I knew, and didn’t recognize them either.
I do believe that is my favorite part of Halloween. For one day out of the year, we lose all of our ideas and pretenses. Our prejudices go out the window. It is a night we are able to just relax a little bit and have fun with the people we are around, whether we know them (or think we don’t know them) or not.
Every year I go trick or treating with Alexander. He and his parents are like my family. I’m usually around at various get togethers they have, and have gotten to know friends and neighbors of theirs. But, when I am out with a legion of masked people, it is hard to tell who I know, and who are just strangers in the mix. I’m forced to treat everyone as if I know them, just in case. Which, really I should do everyday anyway. I have to wonder if that’s really how it’s meant to be. The lines that divide us are faded out beneath the face paint and masks. It allows us all to really come together as one, without our differences being all we can see.
I do believe my new goal in life is to treat everyone as if they are wearing a clown mask. I’ll let you know how that goes.
rain rain, go away
Another rainy day here in Nashville. It’s actually quite nice, if I didn’t have to get out in it… and if only it didn’t send my lungs into some sort of non-functioning shock. As I sit here, I’ve got my nebulizer mask on, pumping the blessed mist of medicine into my body. While reading over my post about rustic living, it seems nothing short of ridiculous when I realize that I probably would not have even survived for very long back in the pioneer days, without electricity to function my mechanical lungs. Any length of time at all, and I’d be gasping for air amidst all of the dusty things. Oh well, I can dream, can’t I?
I tried to do some cleaning around my house, as it has (yet again) quickly become a pigsty. Generally speaking, dust, mold, and cleaning chemicals make my lungs protest violently. Yet, it doesn’t seem as if anyone else has been willing to attempt to conquer the beast of our house, so I took it upon myself today to do just that. Bad idea.
It seems like I can’t win for losing. If I don’t clean, the dust and mold continues to grow, which is bad news. If I do clean, the chemicals (regardless of how environmentally friendly they are… I’ve tried that route) have just as bad of an effect on me. It’s quite frustrating.
I should’ve just stayed in bed, taking my breathing treatments every hour or so, like a good little girl. But alas, I always think I can do more than I actually can. The frustration overtakes me, and I’m fighting a hopeless battle.
What I should do is stay home and take it easy today, but I’m not sure if that’s an option. I may call in to work and get a feel for how busy the evening will be. If we have more than a couple of clients called out, then maybe I can lay low. I guess we’ll see.
Anyway, I’ll have to see how the day unfolds. This post has been nothing more than a rant. Maybe I’ll actually write something meaningful later.
Just Another Pilgrimage 