May 27, 2010

Vacay!

Well, tomorrow's the day. We finally go to the airport and hope we get to board our flight to Seattle. I'm so excited. We're going to visit my husband's mother & sister. They've got a big weekend planned for us. We'll go sightseeing & visiting all the other family up there. And on Sunday night we're going to the Museum of Glass and then out to dinner at the Melting Pot. Sounds like a blast & I can't wait. I am sooooo ready for a vacation!

May 19, 2010

Disappointed

Well, it looks like HNM won't be graduating tomorrow after all. She failed Algebra. I know most of us hated Algebra and it was an extremely hard class to pass. But I'm still disappointed that I won't be watching her walk across that stage tomorrow night to get that diploma.

She'll go to summer school and make up this one class. And at the end of July she'll have a graduation ceremony with all the other summer school attendees. She'll get to wear her cap & gown and walk across the stage to get her high school diploma. And she'll have her party after just like we planned for this weekend. But it's still just not the same. I was really looking forward to one of my kids graduating high school like I did.

I'm just plain disappointed.

May 14, 2010

The Volunteer State

The cleanup has begun. Nashville is finally beginning to see the surface again. The water has receded and lives are moving on. Almost every part of town was hit by the Flood of 2010. No matter where you go you'll see someone's life reduced to debris piled up on the sides of streets waiting for trucks to pick up and haul away.

But what brings tears to my eyes and makes me feel as if I live in the most wonderful city in the world are all the volunteers who've put their lives on hold to help out a neighbor, a friend or a stranger. Traffic on affected streets is so congested you creep along at a snail's pace, but do so without complaint. And all because there are so many people willing to help. So many people willing to do anything they have to do, from hauling wet furniture to pulling out drywall and hardwood floors to crawling beneath houses to clean out muddy insulation to sorting trash into piles for the trucks to haul away to cooking for the victims and volunteers.

I've heard stories so varied yet so alike from flood victims. Some were evacuated before the water reached their homes, others were rescued by hunters or boat enthusiasts who left their own families to help those in need. But rescued or evacuated, not once have I heard complaints about who was helped first or who helped who. And I've only heard one report of looters that was over so fast we almost didn't know it happened in the first place.

This is the reason we're called The Volunteer State. We rise above ourselves to help anyone who needs it and we do it cheerfully. And even amid all this destruction, beauty and hope will always bloom because....

We Are Nashville!

May 05, 2010

Do The Write Thing For Nashville




Hey writers! We're raising money for flood relief in Nashville by auctioning off critiques and more from your favorite authors, agents, and editors.


Visit Do The Write Thing For Nashville for more information on how to donate or what's available for bidding.

May 04, 2010

Unimaginable Devastation

It's hard to imagine that just two days ago our little part of the world was turned upside down and inside out; almost literally. Today, the sun is shining and just outside my window here at work the world goes on as if nothing has happened.

I'm overwhelmed by the devastation I see on the news and as I drive to work and back. I feel guilty because I wasn't affected as others were. And I feel sad that people who had nothing to begin with have even less now.

Tourism will take a hit as well with so many of our local attractions taking on water or without power. Titans Stadium, The Grand Ole Opry and The Country Music Hall of Fame, will all be shut down for clean up and repairs. I also feel personally impacted that the Opryland Hotel was a complete loss. RWA was scheduled to hold their annual national conference there in July. Emails were sent out yesterday to those who had reservations for the next 90 days. All deposits will be refunded and the hotel will be shut down until further notice.

Nashville will need all the prayers and healing light that can be sent its way. Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers. And please volunteer to help those who've lost their homes or donate what you can to local charities and shelters.

May 02, 2010

Nashville Flood 2010


It's been raining nonstop in Nashville for two days. I'm in Bellevue, just outside the Metro area, but have been pretty lucky so far. We haven't lost power but we did lose cable & internet for awhile. I ventured out and took a few pics. It doesn't look good. The far end of my street is completely flooded & looks like a lake now.

The interstate onramp is flooded & no one can get on or off at this exit. A friend one street over is completely flooded out & has lost everything. And that's just on my side of town. Even downtown there are spots that are dangerous and where you can't get through. Interstates are closed & thousands are without electricity or have lost their homes.