My Home's In Alabama

    

This song has always meant so much to me, never more than now. I continue to be heartened, touched and amazed at the outpouring of support for those affected by the devastating storms my home state recently experienced.

Gretchen Wilson contributed her talents to CMT's "Music Builds" fundraiser with "Angel From Montgomery".



Alabama's native son Hank Williams, Jr. did the same.



My son returns to life in Tuscaloosa tomorrow, and it's a city changed forever. Despite the hardship, there is a renewed sense of community there—people are reaching out to others all over. I will travel with him, and see the progress that's been made. I know this: he will be surrounded by people who care . . . Alabama is that kind of place.

Toomer's For Tuscaloosa - Your Brother's Burden Is Your Own
The Haves Helping the Have Nots on Facebook

Thank you to all who have helped and continue to help. God bless you all.




Love from Delta.

Ohatchee

  


     This lovely lady is Jill Fendley. She is volunteering her eighteen-hour days to coordinate tornado relief efforts for the community of Ohatchee, Alabama. She has enthusiasm, intelligence, energy and motivation—she cares about people, and her people are in need of help. They are living in tents. Basic needs like food, water and underwear are pressing. Things are pretty hectic at the Red Cross shelter at Ten Island Missionary Baptist Church. 

     Jason and I visited there today with a massive amount of food and drinks, courtesy of the Delta Community Club. It was a rainy, cool afternoon, but cars filed in one after another as folks unloaded donations of their own possessions as well as store-bought goods.

     It did my heart good to meet the women and men who are spending their days and nights helping their neighbors. 

     Someone sent fifty cases of dark chocolate Premium M&M's. Now that's comfort food.

   
     Ohatchee is one of countless towns across the South rebuilding after last week's storms. It's in good hands, and we all appreciate the countless hours our fellow Alabamians are devoting to creating a better tomorrow.

     Here's a song I want to share with them from tonight's Glee episode. It speaks to all of us.

Love from Delta.

After the Storms

     This is Poseidon, Diablo and Elizabeth enjoying an early-morning muffin batter breakfast today. They are among the world's most ridiculously spoiled chickens. Life in the yard provides protection and an endless supply of food.

     Others are not so lucky. Our son and I are heading out soon to purchase food and supplies with a generous donation from the Delta Community Club. We will deliver these items to Ohatchee, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Alabama's recent tornado explosion.

     Jace has his own tornado stories to tell from Tuscaloosa. In fact, you can't go anywhere right now without hearing one from somebody. They are heartbreaking but hopeful, because we live in a place where people love to help people. As I've noted on this blog, I've been very touched by the outpouring of support. Jeepers . . . Charlie Sheen even showed up in T-Town yesterday.




     Rumors of benefit concerts abound. Randy Owen may organize one in Jacksonville (I'll be there). Toomer's for Tuscaloosa is encouraging native sons like Hank Junior.

To all my Florida friends and family who have helped: thank you from the bottom of my heart (of Dixie).




Love from Delta.

Daybreak In Alabama

When I get to be a composer I'm gonna write me some music about

Daybreak in Alabama

And I'm gonna put the purtiest songs in it

Rising out of the ground like a swamp mist

And falling out of heaven like soft dew.

I'm gonna put some tall tall trees in it

And the scent of pine needles

And the smell of red clay after rain

And long red necks

And poppy colored faces

And big brown arms

And the field daisy eyes

Of black and white black white black people

And I'm gonna put white hands

And black hands and brown and yellow hands

And red clay earth hands in it

Touching everybody with kind fingers
And touching each other natural as dew
In that dawn of music when I
Get to be a composer
And write about daybreak
In Alabama. 

-Langston Hughes

I am profoundly grateful for the safety of my friends and loved ones in the wake of this week's storms, and deeply touched by the hearts of the people of the State of Alabama.

If you choose to donate to relief efforts, I recommend Toomer's For Tuscaloosa. The same spirit that gave birth to Tide for Toomer's during Auburn's tree crisis brought forth an immediate response to T-Town's troubles by the Tigers.

I am so darn proud to live here.

Love from Delta.