Not so long ago, on a small historic side street, across from a famously beautiful garden, I was reminded about the strength of community. In the middle of the night, neighbors awakened to the howling of wind, downpouring of rain, and thunderous crashing of trees. Morning light brought scenes of massive devastation to houses, cars, objects living and dead. Neighbors were seen walking the street with a zombie-like appearance as they surveyed the scale of destruction while always listening fearfully for the further crashing of trees. Hours of silence passed. And then, the hum of chainsaws and generators began to break the silence. Neighbors, one by one, broke their zombie-like trance and began walking the small historic side street with their chainsaws in hand. Families went from house to house as parents cut and cleared large fallen trees and children played a version of “pick-up sticks.” A day that began with tragedy and destruction ended with neighborhood compassion and cooperation. It was a day of Aiken at its best during an event at its worst.