Nashville's Floods: 100 days later

Has it really been 100 days? From May 1-3, 2010, over 13 inches of rain fell on Nashville, TN and neighboring communities. Once the rains stopped, then the trouble really began. Rainwater ran to the streams and rivers. Lakes had to be lowered through dams adding to the surging river waters.

Many homes and businesses were lost. Some have returned. Some were destroyed and will likely not return. The damage has been well documented - even if it wasn't well covered by media outside of Tennessee.

A friend of mine, Denny Rudolph, was inspired to write a song not only by the stunning events of the flood but more important by the amazing ways in which folks from the mid-state rallied to help one another.


Middle Tennessee has been my home for all but 9 years of my life. Its a spectacular place to call home with spectacular people to call family, friends, and neighbors.

TMC

Good deed for the day

I've never been able to bring myself to donate blood. As a teen, I had allergy shots regularly. And I've had to give a couple of vials of blood over the years for routine physicals and such. So I've done the needle thing and had a bit of the red stuff removed. But donate a bag of blood? Shudder...its just not my thing.

I carry a signed organ-donor card in my wallet. Several years ago, I was moved by the actions of some friends who lost a daughter - yet enriched the life of many others by donating many parts of her body. I quickly decided once I'm declared 'gone', they can take all they want. Put my innards on Craigslist, donate them to Goodwill, auction them on eBay. I don't care.

Today, Ozzy Nelson donated blood. He walked to the Red Cross, did his duty for his fellow man, and then called me to come pick him up. The last part was a bit out of the norm because he normally just walks back to the office, but he was feeling a bit light-headed today and needed a lift.

I shortened a meeting, got my car keys, and cheerfully went to pick him up. We were almost back to the office when he realized he'd left a DVD he wanted to watch at the Red Cross. So I drove back a 2nd time to retrieve it.

Many successful efforts are often the result of a team effort. So even though a nurse or phlebotemist or whatever they call the blood-draining people didn't take my blood physically, I kinda feel like I did a good deed. Its almost like I gave blood if you think about it. Right?

I wonder if I can claim a partial 'community hour' through Payroll for my contributions to the Red Cross.

TMC