Hope

random strangers show up.

in your drive way.

they have their mouths open.

they can't believe the site

this is your neighborhood.

they don't even know you.

this is your home.

some of them gag at the smell.

they look stunned and don't even know where to begin.

they start spreading out

"do you need help?"

"how about you? Do you need help?"

They just start walking into homes.

The doors are wide open.

mostly to vent out the mildew smell.

But they just walk in.

to your home.

your neighbors homes.

what do you feel?

do you feel joy?

do you feel shocked that random people would help?

do you feel mad that they're invading your privacy?

do you feel annoyed, "I don't need sympathy!"

do you feel all of this?

do you want them to go away?

"don't walk into my home?"

whomever they are.

you want to say "no thank you, i don't need help"

but you can't

you need help.

whomever they are.

where ever they came from.

you need them.

just pause and think about it for a second.

how in need do you need to be to say "yes, please help."

strangers.

you need strangers to help rip up your carpet.

you need these random people to help pack up and toss out what is left of your stuff.

you need help to find hope and not just start crying.

again.

you need help in possibly one of the most tragic times of your life.

they go through your clothes.

they decide what is trash and what is worth washing and saving.

they're are going through your photos.

your clothes.

your childrens toys.

another group is in your daughters bedroom.

loading up toys in trash bags.

bleaching the ones that can be saved.

tossing the ones that were soaked in the mud water.

one girl.

in your room.

putting your underwear drawer in a plastic bag.

you want to tell her to stop.

those are personal.

but you can't

because you need help.

another neighbor.

nothing left.

3 cars.

gone.

3 story home.

Nothing but a wood frame left.

all your clothes.

somewhere in the river.

asking strangers to fish in the creek to find any jewelry.

while you pull out the rest of your belongings.

from the creek.

one girl is in the corner.

trying to dry out love letters to your wife

while you were overseas.

wedding cards.

your favorite fathers day card from your daughter.

photos.

that your family has collected over they years.

vacations.

weddings.

births.

once were in photo albums.

now hanging on clothes lines between two trees.

hoping to be saved.

these strangers will never know.

how you feel.

they get to go home.

after a day spent in mildew and mud.

take a bath.

maybe go out with friends.

go on with their life.

you'll keep washing the mud off your Christmas decorations.

the ones you could find in the yard.

you get to continue to stare at your wood frame.

that used to be your home.

your toiletries on a tarp in the front yard.

your front lawn lined with everything.

that used to be inside.

now tore out.

you think "what next?"

i had no idea what to expect.

with this flood.

i can't ever explain what we saw in those homes.

this isn't meant to be sad.

it's not meant to bring guilt.

but in the weeks to come.

when the "city" looks put back together.

remember the homes that are far from it.

this is our town.

our love.

and yes it's sad that opry mills and forever 21 won't be up till Christmas.

but remember there are homes out there.

that will never be up again.

a week of helping out is great.

but do more.

if you don't have time to give.

keep donating money.

if you don't have money.

make the time to give.

keep being hope.

keep asking who needs help.

who needs money.

we can all keep sending money.

somebody's cousin.

a neighbor to your friends mother in law.

somebody.

find them.

help them.

or email me.

i'll find them.

treat this like it was your family that lost it all.

because it is somebody's family.

keep caring.

We are Nashville.