Thoughts and Prayers for Nashville

As a New Yorker, I know about tragedy and loss. Just this weekend we had another scare and dodged a major bullet when a car bombing was averted by alert sidewalk vendors, the NYPD and FDNY. In a way, while it's a little scary, it's not totally unexpected. It's NY, we know we are targets and we trust our men in blue and the intelligence/counter terrorist agencies to do their jobs and take care of us.
My friends in Nashville didn't dodge their bullet. But their bullet wasn't airplanes, bombs or terrorists.. Their bullet was water... The pictures and video I have seen of the floods are unbelievable.. My heart hurts for them and for their city, which I have come to love with all my heart. Nashville was the first place I flew to after 9-11. Less than a month later. I needed to be there.. it was my way of showing Them that I wasn't gonna be defeated, that I was going to go on living and travelling and visiting the people and places I love. Garth was releasing Scarecrow and was having a press conference which was open to the public to celebrate the release of the first single, Wrapped Up In You. When I heard about it, I knew I had to be there. It would help me feel normal again, if that makes any sense... (to my Garth friends, I know you know what I mean). At the press conference, before Garth came out, I was talking to some of the reporters and they could tell immediately that I came from NY (what gave them the first clue? what accent?). The love and support was humbling. I had brought Garth an FDNY cap and thought if I could get it to him, great.. if not, there would be other opportunities down the road...
When Garth started taking questions from the media, Jimmy Carter (bless his heart) used his turn to tell Garth that I had come from NY and had something to give him.. Garth hugging me that day and having him whisper in my ear, "is everyone all right?" did more to heal me than anything else had. I will never forget Jimmy's kindness, Garth's kindness, or the kindness that everyone showed me during that trip and how it touched my heart as few things have. I felt the love for ALL New York, not just for me. I can't listen to that song to this day without having my mind flash back to that day.
And that's what I want to send out to my beloved Nashville today.. I wish I could wrap my arms around the whole city and give it the same kind of hug that it gave me when I needed it most. I can donate funds, send my prayers and my love, but sometimes you just want to be there, you know?
I pray that your city, our city, recovers as quickly as mine did.. Northerners, Southerners, we are all Americans.. with that "can do" spirit and fortitude that made this country great. You will be fine.. you will dust yourselves off and make it better, just like we did up here. BELIEVE!!!!!!!
(that's 7 !'s ;)
I love you, Nashville... can't wait to see you again!