Years ago, I pondered this question: What objects would I grab from my burning house?
The answer–my photos–was an unrealistic one in that I had many, many cumbersome albums. That led me to digitize and upload much of my collection. I also scanned some of my kids’ artwork and school work, and I made an electronic (and paper) book. If the house burns down, my photos are safe, unless the Internet goes down too, in which case we’ll probably all have bigger things to worry about.
So for the new answer to the question, I wandered the house. What few objects are irreplaceable?
- Ireland painting. My parents had this painting made by a friend based on photos from their trip to Ireland; during my own trip to Ireland with my family after my parents had died, I saw the same landscapes and felt I was there with them. This one is pretty big, but I am not taking much.
- Signed copy of The Naked and the Dead. It was a pleasure to meet and drink Scotch with Norman Mailer; it was my one brush with a celebrity, too.
- Thai hat. I bought this handmade hat in Thailand, and it has come to represent my travels in my mind.
- Watercolor postcard. My mom sent me this postcard, which she painted in 1993 during a trip to Florida. On the back she wrote, “Save this one in case I get famous.” She was so touched when she visited and saw it on my wall.
- Mardi Gras mask. I had such an adventure driving down to New Orleans with my husband and boys, and I love this mask.
There are many more irreplaceable things, including objects representing my husband’s family. I figure he could grab those. Of course, as long as we all got out safely, none of the objects would matter much.
I saw a post recently about this idea on Brain Pickings, with pictures of other people’s answers.
What would you grab from your burning house?
And I laughed at the "American Fried Rice." } – 
Wow Marcy – those are some interesting articles with some interesting symbolism attached to them. Pictures are always my first choice, so I suppose I’d grab my laptop, my car keys, some of my notebooks, and my dogs with their leashes, scream for my teenage kids to get out, and run out the door. I guess that’s quite an armful but the dogs at least can walk on their own four legs and the kids are able-bodies teens.
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The paintings and the sentiments attached to it are beautiful Marcy. I wondered what I would grab . Certificates, and bank account details was the answer!!!!!. Asked my hubby the question… and he said “you”. So sweet na. When I said that was not a valid answer, he said his hard disks
This post just reminds me I really need to get on and fix my photos! I’ll have to think about what I would take in a fire, I’m not really sure I would grab anything but the boys!
Okay, I’m still reeling from the idea of you drinking Scotch with Norman Mailer… My first thought was also my pictures, but like you I have most in multiple spots outside the house, so that’s probably okay. Assuming pets and people get out, one of the things I’d have to grab is my Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd cell autographed by Chuck Jones. (He’s long dead, so he’s obviously not signing any more.) I’d also have to grab this little cheap yellow Woolworth’s pig from 1952 that sits in my kitchen. My mother bought it as a new bride 60 years ago and passed it on to me when I got married. Worth nothing monetarily and everything in sentimentality.
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My fur babies!!! It would probably leave no time for anything else by the time I caught them all. Particularly the cats
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