VENDOR WRITING

A Great Injustice

BY PAUL A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

If they can earmark $550 million for a stadium, why can’t they do the same for homeless people?

I feel that the state is doing a great injustice to these people. Because I was out there. I was lucky enough to get in, because I wanted to get in, but these legislators don’t think about nobody but themselves and how much money the state can make off of what they’re doing. I feel that every one of them should be recalled. They voted FOR this. The governor should be recalled for even suggesting it. There’s enough money with all of these rich people they could have contributed that much. They should contribute an equal amount to help the homeless people who want to get off the streets, get off the streets. We have enough vacant buildings, if they are structurally sound enough, to rehab and make into apartments.

With that in mind, and them wanting to shut us down because we’re telling the truth, there’s something wrong with that picture. We need to get a campaign to get all of these people out of the office and get people in there that are going to do something for homeless people instead of thinking about themselves and how much money they can get from special interests.

It shouldn’t be a felony to sleep outside. They need to come up with a solution to where the ones who want to stay outside, that have been outside for several years that can’t get into or don’t want to go into housing, (because they couldn’t acclimate, or I don’t feel like they could hold it) can find a place for them to go and be that’s not in a flood plane.

And if we come up with a solution like pallet houses, that don’t need to be in a flood plane either. So, let’s look for property that’s not going to be in a flood plane for both and turn around and let’s do this thing. I don’t know where the money would come from for the pallet houses or the infrastructure, but there has to be money coming from some place with fundraisers and donations to do this thing. Let’s do everything we can do to help the people get off the streets.

From people I talk to, they are telling me that the shelters are overflowing. There’s not enough shelter space for them.

It makes me feel very upset and very angry. Because they are doing everything to bring money in. They could spend $500 million to put into building cost affordable housing for the ones who want to get off the streets. The ones I worry about a lot is the women and kids. Because they shouldn’t be subject to this. We should be able to get them into housing quicker than they’re doing. There’s too much red tape. The red tape needs to be cut.

The World is Watching

By Vicky B., Contributor Vendor

The world is watching the war in Ukraine unfold graphically on our TVs, cellphones and tablets.

The world is watching homeless people lose all their possessions over YouTube, Twitter and Instagram in LA. City workers putting everything in the trash trucks saying, “We’re only doing our job.” The city is cleaning up the homelessness out there more then once but, more devastating to watch it on InvisiblePeople.TV. A true and heart wrenching interview with the ones losing their homes as the city makes way for opening day in the ballpark. The ballpark.

The world is watching Tennessee that just passed a bill, waiting on Gov. Bill Lee’s desk, that makes camping on state property a felony. A felony for trying to survive. There aren’t enough shelter beds for the estimated number of homeless in Nashville. The city wants to attract a super bowl so they’ll need a bigger stadium costing billions.

The world is watching the US give billions to Ukraine yet they allow their poorest to suffer the most.

No one is watching what homeless people have to do while they wait for someone to die in affordable housing so they can be next on the waitlist. Most see homeless people as beggars, lazy, drunks and addicts. Most homeless people have jobs, sometimes two, but rents are so high and show no signs of decreasing anytime soon.

No one sees the heart ripping anger I feel that more isn’t being done. A lot more action and a little less talking is what needs to be done. You’ve heard me say it hundreds of times, affordable housing ends homelessness.

Garth Does It Again — Another Memorable Performance From A Legendary Entertainer

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Any guesses where I was Saturday April 16, 2022? For those who know me best, as well as those who regularly read the stories I write, it should come as no surprise that I was at Nissan stadium for the Garth Brooks concert.

Before I go on, I’d like to give a special shout out to the 13 customers that gave me $5 each and said things like, “Now you put that away for Garth, OK,” or, “This IS NOT for your daughter or your granddaughter, THIS IS FOR GARTH!” You guys and made it possible for me to go, so thank you!

I know many of you are probably thinking you’ve seen him before so what’s the big deal? Honestly, I have no rational explanation for my fascination with Garth, but there was a sign at the show that I think sums it up nicely, “There Is No Cure for Garthritis.” I wholeheartedly agree!

Now about the show. It began with the legendary Bill Cody introducing the 5,024th airing of The Grand Ole Opry (the longest running radio program in history-79 years and counting). Chris Young (who was also opener for the show that got rained out) started things off by singing, “Gettin’ You Home” (and the crowd sang the along).

He then introduced Chris Rice (who I’d honestly never heard of until that night), and he sang, “Drinkin’

Beer, Talkin’ God, Amen” and followed up with, “Eyes On You” (his first No. 1 hit).

Next up was Trisha Yearwood who sang, “She’s In Love With The Boy.” She was joined on stage by Lauren Alaina (the newest member of The Grand Ole Opry).

Chris Young then returned to the stage to perform, “Famous Friends” after which he was joined by Garth on stage singing, “Papa Loved Mama.” Now that was a surprise!

Still other famous faces made an appearance on the Opry stage that night, Larry Gatlin (celebrating 45 years on the Opry) and Jeanie Seely (celebrating 55 years on the Opry) joined together with the others to sing, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

After a brief break, the show continued with Garth belting out one of his newer hits, “All Day Long,” with the crowd repeatedly singing the tag line. (I happened to be wearing my Garth All Day Long t-shirt I’d gotten from the rained out show.)

Next up was, “Rodeo” after which he thanked the crowd for giving him a second chance to do the show in Nashville.

He followed that up with, “Two of A Kind Working On A Full House” as the crowd sang along with him, which was followed by, “The Beaches of Cheyenne.” Then he spotted a sign in the crowd that requested, “More

Than A Memory” and sang it. Next he performed, “Two Piña Coladas” with the crowd singing along.

For his next selection he sang, “The River” and the stadium lit up!

He covered, “Fishin’ In the Dark” originally sang by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

After a comment about the rained out show, he assured the crowd, “Make no mistake the thunder will roll,” and went on to perform the song with the added verse. (If you haven’t heard it, check it out — it’s very realistic.)

Then there was another crowd request this time for, “She’s Every Woman,” which was followed by, “Unanswered Prayers” with the crowd singing along.

Next, he performed a string of his classic hits that included, “That Summer,” “Ain’t Goin’ Down Til the Sun Comes Up,” “Much too Young to Feel This Damn Old,” and “Shameless,” (which for me wasn’t quite the same without Trisha).

Garth said he’s asked all the time about his favorite song to perform live. His answer? “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” which he sings and the crowd was brought to their feet. This was followed by his signature song, “Friends In Low Places” with the extra verse, and the crowd still on their feet.

At this point, Garth took a moment

to reminisce about his many shows in Nashville, and said that, this was his best night in Nashville. I’m SO glad I got to be a part of it.

He then performed his favorite song, ‘The Dance,’ and the stadium lit up once again.

Garth again mentioned the rained out show, saying 71,000 tickets were refunded after it’s cancellation, and how people said he wouldn’t be able to get all those people back, but they were wrong! A total of 73,000 tickets were sold for his events here, and once again he thanked the crowd.

By now you’d think the show would be over, but no, he continued to take audience requests including, “What She’s Doin’ Now” followed by a trio of Kieth Whitley songs: “Ten Feet Away”, “Miami My Amy”, and “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” He joked with them that they, “came to a Garth show to hear other people’s stuff,” but he graciously complied with their request.

He then performed another request from the crowd — a song that I wasn’t familiar with, “It’s Your Song,” in which he paid tribute to his mother. It was very moving. That was followed by a cover of “Amarillo By Morning.”

Garth next gave a shout out to all the kids in the audience, one in particular, a 7-year-old boy named

Charles, who had a sign saying he was attending his first concert. He asked Garth to sing, “Standing Outside the Fire.” When asked if he knew the song he told Garth he’d been practicing. After commenting that he, “had the look” Garth said what he needed was for the crowd to chant his name, which of course we did. Garth then gave Charles a microphone and the kid didn’t miss a beat singing right alongside Garth! It was definitely a highlight of the evening! Definitely a superstar in the making!

Even with ALL that excitement the show wasn’t over yet. You might say Garth went back to his small town roots, before all the fame and fortune. He covered songs like “Piano Man”, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name”, and finally “American Pie.” Once again, the crowd sang the chorus and with that the show came to an end — but what a show it was! Once again, Garth DID NOT disappoint! The show lived up to the hype!

As is noted in this article, Garth thanked the crowd several times for the opportunity to make up the rained out show.

Well, I’d like to return the sentiment and say thank you Garth for putting on such a memorable show! Feel free to come on back home any time. We’ll be waiting …