Nashville

Today is May 4, 2010. The city of Nashville and the surrounding counties are reeling from the hellacious sucker punch of a storm that walloped them mercilessly throughout May 1 & 2. As a result, city functions are literally dead in the water, thousands of people have been displaced, and a few poor souls have become the ultimate victims of circumstance. The waters have consumed homes, cars, businesses, malls, studios, hospitals, arenas, and anything else that dared to stand in its way. The torrents had no respect for our rich musical history as it ravaged The Country Music Hall of Fame and The Opry House. The Opryland Hotel was dealt a fierce blow, probably the worst of all the notable establishments. In the cruelest twists of fate, flooding sparked multiple electrical fires that burned homes down as they stood 5 ft. deep in irony.

While the water is beginning to recede in some areas, it looks as if satan himself raked his claws down the roads and left his hoof prints in everyone's front yards.The countryside has 2 bulging black eyes, and certain communities are lying in a coma. My heart is heavy and I am greatly saddened. Our tragedy is going unnoticed and an entire region of people are receiving little to no attention. I feel like a beloved family member is in the ICU, and there's nothing I can do to make them better. In a real situation like that, all you could do is hold someone's hand and speak gentle words of comfort.

So to you, my city fair, I offer my hand. I'm praying for your speedy recovery and singing words of comfort to you. You are in the center of my fondest memories and have provided the soundtrack to my life. You are not forgotten, and the spirit of the music will carry you through. Ada Blenkhorn penned this anthem in 1899 and The Carter Family immortalized it in 1928...80 years have passed since then, but let's raise it up one more time. Keep on the sunny side, Nashville. Mother Maybelle would want it that way.

Keep On The Sunny Side of Life

Written by Ada Blenkhorn in 1899.
Music by J. Howard Entwisle.

There's a dark and a troubled side of life
There's a bright and a sunny side, too
Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

[chorus]
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life

Tho' the storm in its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherished so dear;
Storm and cloud will in time pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear.

Let us greet with a song of hope each day
Tho' the moments be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Saviour alway
Who keepeth everyone in His care