What we gained from April 27, 2011.

I kind of hate anniversaries of sad events. Everyone saying "never forget" and all of that. As if any of us involved could ever forget the tornado. April 27, 2011 represents a day when the city of Tuscaloosa lost a lot. We lost loved ones, friends, coworkers, pets. We lost businesses, homes, infrastructure. We lost trees, beautiful trees, without which the city still sometimes looks like a barren wasteland. No one can come into our city even two years later and say, well, y'all didn't lose THAT much. We lost a lot. But you know what? We gained even more.

On April 27, 2011, we gained a community that doesn't back down in the face of adversity. We gained new friends, the kind of friends who show up without being asked and help you without expecting anything in return. I gained new friends in the form of some good old boys with chainsaws yelling, you want those trees out of your living room? (YES PLEASE!) We gained a love for and pride in this city like I've never seen anywhere else. We gained the knowledge that in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, when your neighbor needs you, you don't hesitate. I gained a special place in my heart for Capstone Church when three of their college ministry members showed up to my apartment and helped me carry down what belongings I was able to salvage. I gained a true knowledge of what it means to be a Southerner. That sometimes, the most you can do is bring all of the food you could cook at your restaurant to those of us digging through the aftermath and say, I'm so sorry honey, please take a biscuit. I hope those business owners know that was exactly what we needed. I gained the knowledge that being part of this city really means being part of a giant family that looks out for one another. I gained a connection to this place that will never be broken.

Most importantly, I gained a home. When I graduated from The University of Alabama, I was lost. I knew the career path I was supposed to take; assistant designer at a huge corporation in New York City. I had the job. What I didn't have was a love for that job and the life that came along with it. I wavered a lot, eventually ending up in a city that felt cold and unwelcoming. It took only four and a half months to realize I was missing my home. Not my where I grew up, where my parents are home, but the home where my heart belongs. There are a lot of reasons I feel tied to Tuscaloosa. I loved my college experience, I love the friends I made, and I love the people here. But nothing bound me as tightly to this city as my experiences during and immediately following April 27, 2011. That draw back here is what allowed me to really find myself and what I have a passion for. I have a job I love, friends that mean the world to me and plans for my future all thanks to Tuscaloosa.

So yes, be sad for the people who lost loved ones that day. Pray that they may find peace. Be sad that it is going to take years for those trees to come back. Feel a little uncomfortable about being able to see clear to DCH from the interstate. But don't you dare feel sad for our city. We are strong and we are thriving. Tuscaloosa has taken a very intentional approach to rebuilding after that tornado. Be happy about all of the businesses that have returned, as well as the new ones who have had an opportunity to become a part of our city. Be proud of the identity that was revealed after April 27, 2011. We are a strong, proud community of people who don't dare back down, no matter what the circumstances.