Roll Tide T-Town

Devestation. It's a powerful word and what may be devestating to one person may not be to the next. The tornadoes that ripped through our state this week were truly devestating.

A few years ago, Hurrican Katrina was devestating. I thought I identified with the people there and felt their pain. I helped as best I could. I can tell you for sure that I truly did not feel their pain, but now I can identify.

I may no longer live in the Tuscaloosa area but my family and friends do. The Crimson Tide blood runs deep through my veins, and it's still "home" to me. Being from there embodies who I am. The pictures on TV do not truly identify the pain and destruction there. The surrealness of it all and the pain comes when you see it firsthand. That is heartbreaking. My heart truly goes out to the people affected by the horrific force of nature ... in all cities it affected, large and small.

Again, I'm helping as I can. Thursday night as I was shopping I would ask myself if I really needed that, thinking about an extra few dollars that might help more. What I'm doing is a drop in the bucket as to what is needed. But if many give a drop then the bucket may be full, or at least close to it.

People of Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Birmingham, Eclectic, Arab, Phil Campbell, Cordova and all the other cities I haven't mentioned I pray for you. One thing I saw that was so encouraging were strangers helping strangers and friends helping friends. Everyone working together for the survival of others. I'm most proud of that.

If you can't help monetarily or physically then help with your prayers. The people of Alabama will survive this and for those in Tuscaloosa I send a big "Roll Tide!" to you.