Nashville, TN – Come Hell or High Water
The Grand Ole Opry is in tatters, there’s a drinking water shortage, a state of emergency, an unprecedented number of business closed, jobs lost, homes in disrepair, over $1.5 billion in damage, and Nashville, Tennessee is HAPPY! I’m
Nashville, TN
serious folks. I came here to do flood relief work for a few weeks. I wish I could say it was a philanthropic, heroic, do-gooder feat; but actually I’m getting paid decently by a private company. Regardless of my visitation motives, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve always had the impression of the world’s country music industry capital as being a cheesy, dog-eat-dog, superficial place. Forgive me Nashvillians! I was dead wrong. Nashville is artistic yet unpretentious. Everyone in Nashville is a character. Nashville is submerged in muddy water. And Nashville is in a good mood. Everywhere I go I hear of someone living with friends who lost their home, or walking miles because they lost their car, and they are happy as they speak about it. Where are all the angry frowns and the destitute screaming and crying flood victims? Not to downplay the frightful and stressful experience that so many people are going though here, it’s just that they take it in such amazing stride. I must be in the friendliest city in the Western Hemisphere. Someone finally told me today that Nashville was voted by some national media source as “America’s Friendliest City,” and I’m pretty sure at this juncture I’d vote the same. Nashville is also very conscientious. Every restaurant I’ve eaten at so far (mind you I look for these places,) serves “local produce” with a smattering of fair trade this-and-that served up next to a community garden, all for under 10 bucks. And the violin shops! They let you check out fiddles and take them home like you’re at the public library. So I’m test drivin’ some of the finest fiddles here in music city. (I’ve got a little crush on this deep voiced, sexy Romanian one and just might have to take him home with me.) Nashville’s not on the coast. It’s not in the mountains. It’s just hip as hip gets sitting right here in the middle of nowhere. And greeeen! There’s something about these small hills that gives you an infinite view of the subtropical rain forest around you. If Nashville skips a day of cutting the grass (which fortunately they have the decency to do,) Mother Nature takes over. She’s a bit sassy and out of control here. Like most of the personalities in Nashville, she’ll tell you just what she’s thinking. It’s where the jungle meets the city. This place is somehow even greener than Appalachia. Maybe this is what keeps these people perpetually jolly. So I’m letting Nashville be a positive influence on me. It gives me hope here near the end of the American Empire. Apparently, people can be quite blissful in the midst of natural and economic disasters, and friendly and helpful to the people around them to boot. It’s all in the attitude. So cheers! Here’s to all y’all happy people in Nashville. May we remember your attitude when the Empire falls, (That’s another article all together. But at least now I’m looking forward to writing it.)
