Integrity after the Nashville flood

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . March 20, 2011 . 12:02PM

When Nashville was flooded at the end of April last year, it shook the community. Strangely enough, Nashville didn’t get much national media coverage, nor did we receive very much financial assistance from outside sources. Celebrities outside of Nashville didn’t rush to hold telethons to help us nor did the President rush in to assist us. Rather, the people in Nashville pulled together to work as a whole and fix what was broken. The celebrities that lived here put on concerts to assist in relief efforts, or donated cash to help out, and the Nashville flood went quietly into the record books.

Except it didn’t. We just aren’t whining about it. It’s still affecting people here, almost a year later. Insurance companies rushed to deny people coverage and avoid responsibility. People lost homes, businesses and their lives. Some haven’t recovered, may never recover, from the trauma of a rain that came on with less than a couple of hours notice.

In the face of adversity, there are signs of character, however, and sometimes it is important to note that character when it is seen, because it can be so rare. In my small town of Franklin, TN, there was an area of town where the businesses and homes faced extreme devastation. While all of those people and places deserve mention, there is something in particular I feel is important. Our Sonic burger joint was destroyed. It was shut down for almost 8 months because there was just no way they could make the old building work after what happened to it.

You may believe there is nothing important as to a business being shut down and rebuilt after a flood. Here is what makes it special. The other evening, I was sitting and watching my son play Little League Baseball. The people that make his baseball, and the baseball for this entire community, happen, have had extreme difficulty finding sponsors. It seems that with the flood and the economy, people just aren’t willing to reach into their pockets so little kids can play baseball. Businesses have to run and make a profit and all of those things, so when it comes down to it, sponsoring a little kids baseball team might not mean much to a local business facing the adversity of the economy. When gas is $3.49 a gallon (at last check), decisions have to be made. I get it.

However, those children feel the burn of the economy, too, as do their parents, and trust me when I say that the parents are very aware of who the sponsors of these teams are and what they are doing for the kids. So, as I sat there watching my precious cargo smile and throw a ball and learn how to play on a team and laugh, I looked at those sponsor signs and smiled. I chose to eat at Jet’s Pizza that night because they sponsored the Franklin Baseball Club. As I looked around, however, I noticed there were a plethora of signs from…Sonic?

Truly? I knew the local Sonic had been a huge sponsor in seasons past, but they lost everything last year. How could they afford to stay in the game this year? Not only did they sponsor the teams, but they also placed brand new signs (much needed!) designating the visitor and home sides on each and every bullpen. My eyes blurred with tears and I thought about the sacrifices people make to help others when things are not easy for them and it made me realize that for all the people that have not moved forward, some have done so spectacularly.

My local Sonic has done amazing things. They have rebuilt with a gorgeous building and landscaping, the food is actually better than it was, the service more prompt and I enjoy going there a lot more now. I will be giving them my business as much as is possible because I know that they support my son, my community, and myself. It’s important to support the places that are willing to stick their necks and their pennies out there to make the community a better place for all of us. They are investing in our kids.

Thanks, Sonic. I want you to know, today, that I appreciate what you are doing to make it possible for my kid to play this season. They didn’t have enough sponsors and when that happens, kids don’t get to play, like my son didn’t last fall. Thank you.

Sharing the love

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . May 11, 2010 . 8:30PM

Sometimes, someone says something in a way that I wish I could or hoped I could or want to, but just can’t. And those are the times that I ask you to read something someone else wrote in the hopes that it can make you feel the way I felt when I read it.

So, please read this post. You’ll be glad you did. It speaks to the heart of how Nashvillians feel right now.

Hello America Letter

Nashville Flooding

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . May 4, 2010 . 1:01AM

I’m tired. There was flooding in Nashville all weekend, but with the national coverage, you would really only think it happened today and was over in a short time. Franklin, TN has areas that are wiped out. Nashville has areas that are wiped out. So do the other surrounding areas.

Because I’m tired, I’m also incoherent. I should have written this post about 5 hours ago, but I was just really happy to be in my house. I spent the weekend at my friend Bryan’s parent’s house (did you get that?) where I was essentially trapped for the weekend due to the weather. Thankfully, his parents are gracious and were incredibly accommodating.

Please keep the people of Nashville in your thoughts. Nashville has a small downtown area and is made up of the surrounding areas, all which were hit very hard. We have many dead and our schools in the downtown area are still out. There is possible contamination of our water and we are under orders to conserve.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Credit to my anonymous picture donor, who knows who he is.

We are not anonymous. We are a community of people who stick together and work hard to make Nashville an amazing place to live. This is devastating.

Edit: Please go read this link for another personal flood story: http://twt.tl/6lUMyOp