flood recovery and Washington, D.C. trip

Nashvillians and Tennesseans have risen to the occasion and we have survived the great flood of 2010. Many millions of $$$$ will have to be spent to FIX us, but it will happen. FEMA learned a lesson from Katrina and were johnny on the spot when Nashville flooded. I am feeling a bit of survivors guilt because we were so unscathed.
The only thing I can think is that just because we didn't suffer damage...it doesn't mean that God likes us better than others. That's all re: the flood.
Al and I have returned from traveling by bus to Washington D.C. with (as he says) the old people. We went with seniors from Donelson. It was a very nice trip. We saw all the monuments in Washington plus two of the Smithsonian buildings....the National Gallery (all art) and the natural history museum. My favorite memorial was the Korean war memorial. It was very moving. We went to Arlington and saw the changing of the guard and laying of a wreath. When they played Taps, if you didn't feel something, you weren't alive yourself.
Naturally, Al loved all the memorials. The Roosevelt memorial was very large. The only building we didn't explore was the Washington Memorial, apparently it is undergoing a repair. Lincoln and Jefferson both made you catch your breath.
On the way home we stopped in Staunton, VA. to see Woodrow Wilson's birthplace and library. Very impressing.
Naturally, we were glad to get home to sleep in our own bed even though all the hotel accommodations were fine.
Since coming home I've been trying to catch up on my yard work. The tomatoes are getting big but the squirels and rabbits think the lettuce and beans I planted are just for them. Not much of a crop there.
Last weekend we went (with the Quinns) to the Tennessee Renaisance Festival. Of course the heat was 90plus but there was lots of shade. I've been wanting to see that for several years. The castle was quite interesting. It was one of those things that you only have to do once. I won't have to think I'm missing any thing next year.
That's all, folks. Till next time

Water, water everywhere....

I was surprised to see that I've not blogged for a few months. So, what's been happening. Travel to Florida to see that branch of the family tree. All are well, thank goodness. Boys are getting bigger every day. Soon J-L will be looking down on all of us.

We are getting ready to bus (with the old folks) to Washington D.C. next week.

This week in Nashville the big news is the flood. Heavy rains Saturday and Sunday left many parts of the city under water. The Cumberland River overflowed it's banks and went into the stores and businesses on 1st ave. The Harpeth in Bellevue flooded and many residences in that area are, if not totaled, in bad shape. Even the elite section of town....Belle Meade...got flooded. I wonder if Al Gore's house suffered any damage. The trouble in our city is that there are many creeks and streams that flo into the rivers and dams. They overflowed and consequently there was just too much water coming too fast.

This a.m. was the first I've been out personally to see the divestation. Percy Priest Dam was almost up to the walkways on the bridge. The river downtown crested at something like 57 feet. The highest previously was 43. So, lots of damage. Even our new symphony hall lost its 2/5 million dollar organ and a couple of grand pianos.

It's a mess and leaves the peoplel who were unscathed (like us) feeling a little guilty not to be sharing in the rest of the city's pain. As of last night 14,000 households were without electricity. The mayor was telling folks to only use water for drinking and food preparation. We have two water purification plants and one was damaged.

Opryland Hotel had to evacuate 1500 guests and cancel all activities until damages can be assessed and repairs made. OpryMills Mall was underwater.,etc. etc, etc.

So, here I sit detailing all the damage. It will cost millions, maybe billions of $$$$ to get every thing back to normal and there will be millions of lost revenue right at the start of the tourist season. I see a tax increase in our futures.

That's all, folks. Till next time.

I