Neighbors

As everybody knows Nashville was hit by a record breaking $1.9 billion flood May 3-4. There was a place on the river bank called Tent City. It was a community of homeless people who had formed their own city, they had a Mayor and a government of their own. Amos House a Catholic Monastic group and Otter Creek Church of Christ ministered to them, helped them survive and even the city of Nashville recognized their community. THey lived 3 blocks east of where we live. When the flood waters came they were walking down our street with looks of horror and sadness on their faces. A man named Lee Beaman who is a car dealer here amongst other things and is very wealthy, donated 2 acres of his land to relocate these people temporarily in an area of town which is not the greatest part of town with shootings and violent crime a way of life. Many of our neighbors moved out to Lee's property and tried to rebuild their community. You can see the tent city from the interstate but not from the road. The business owners pitched a major bitch and are having them evicted from Lee's property. I am pissed off, very pissed off. The people in Tent City are the ones who should be scared out there. Anyway, behind our apartment building are railroad tracks and a bunch of brush and a very tiny wooded strip of land owned by the railroad. It's back where I walk Josie. I have noticed some activity back there, the first thing was some of the bushes there had been cut down, next day there was a strip of old carpet in the path covering the cleared area.Then some 2x4s and rope to hold to to go down the hill into the bushes. Yesterday there was a white sign with one word "OPEN" written on it. Now, I know that most of you would freak if you thought bums were taking up residence in your back yard but somehow I feel blessed to have them taking shelter there. I have never seen my mystery neighbors but I did leave a bag full of T-shirts at their "door step" when I was walking Josie this afternoon. I hope they fit. God Bless these people, they are doing the best they can with things they have repurposed. Pray for them please.