Middle Tennessee Flood | Day 5 | Post #2

I am breaking up Day 5 into a few posts since there are several images I would like to share.  Yesterday I contemplated going to the shelters to find families to see if they would be interested in sharing their story with me.  To be quite honest, although I had such a desire I realized I wasn’t quite ready to make this step just yet.  While I feel so grateful that I have been spared from the massive damages of the flood I also find myself feeling guilty all at the same time.  I imagine I am not alone in this sentiment.  Nevertheless, I know what loss is like…loss in a different way.  I understand the feeling of your world feeling like it’s been turned upside down and not knowing how to proceed with the steps that need to be taken to continue with life.  There have been so many thoughts swirling in my mind as I have been documenting life after the flood.  Flood or no flood, I doubt the thoughts will ever cease to swirl in my mind.  It’s not a bad thing…it merely is what it is!

It’s difficult to express how weird it has felt this week documenting all of this when the the weather has been sunny and beautiful since Monday.  There is a bitter irony to the whole situation.  To say that bearing witness to everything is heavy and surreal is a major understatement.  While I have no idea whether anyone is seeing these images or will see them, I feel compelled to record what already is a significant part of Nashville’s history.  I do believe that Nashville will rise from the ashes to soar again, but in the meantime life (as always) must be taken one day at a time…

To be continued…