What would you take with you if you had 60 seconds to collect yourself before you had to leave your home forever? Don't spend time with your answer, let the first things that come to mind become your answer.
Then ask yourself again. Does the answer change? When you look at these two reflections of yourself, what do you see? Do you like the image reflected? More importantly, did you answer honestly? Or did you answer the question posed knowing that you would have to deal with that reflection later?
Its odd, but with as much as a collector as I am, my first response would be to find the cats. My boy's love them and so do I. But the opening phrase of that last sentence is key for me. My boy's love them. I would find them first. My memories, the other items I surround myself with, the physical things may not be replaceable - but the memories really can't be taken away. The cat's though, I just could never explain why I saved an object before saving them.
When I ask it a second time, - as if my 60 seconds have expanded and the cats are safe, I feel free to add a few more bits and pieces, the paintings that are special I can grab along the way, the necklace from Ireland from my mom, the one my dad made me and the rings he made the boys (this is easy - they are stored together in the same box), and Peanut Butter of course. Thinking it through I realize that these are all on a direct path to most of the exits in the house, only one painting is at risk if I have to leave through a rear window. I have to admit I have a desire to move that one so that it has a better line toward the exit in the event of disaster.
And then I remember, I probably won't get an expanded 60 seconds. I will be very lucky indeed to get Cooper and Magic outside with me. And if I can do that I will feel blessed.
I sit back and wonder at all the little items I have accumulated and associated with importance. The bibles the boys and I read together after my Da's parting. The one we bought for him to place at the table. The small tokens of remembrance. My rock garden, accumulated over the years, as Collin found them one at a time and brought their intrigue to me. The host of pictures, drawings, pieces of writing and knick-knacks that tell a story from a stolen hour here or there with the important people in my life. The framed poem on the fireplace from Nancy and my little Leprechaun (also from Nancy). I am surrounded by images of love and laughter in my home.
But in that final 60 seconds I think I know that while they give me comfort now, I would not try to save them. I carry them with me wherever I go. I would take the cats, the smelly, fussy wonderful cats, as a continuing gift and a measure of the value of life.
What would you take?
The boys do love those cats, and they are irreplaceable--not to mention very much alive. Anything without the breath of life can be replaced or remembered, but not those furry balls of joy. How often do you get a cat that knows he is a dog?
ReplyDeleteBefore I was born my parents' house burned down. They had gone out and no one was home, my oldest brother was at grandmother's house. The story is that they returned to find their home burning and my dad rushed into the burning house to save the dog. And he did, he did save "Cricket." I asked my mother about this recently and she said you must try to save any living thing.
ReplyDeleteTheir house burned down completely, to the ground. But they pulled together, persevered, and built their lives from that point forward. I suppose they faced a lot of adversity in their early years but they always, somehow, made it work. I think adversity can bring people together or pull them apart. I'm just glad in my parents case it was the former!
It is amazing what one will do in an emergency. Instinct, or is it something else, takes over? The basic drive to survive and see to it that others do as well. A catastrophic event like that must give one a new perspective, or rather put one's life into perspective. It's a harsh gift I suppose, to learn what is truly important in life. But there it is. A brush with death will take you there... If we could live our lives with the knowledge that it is that close, how would we conduct our course?
I have a lot of sentimental little things but I know they are "little" things given the big picture. After making sure the living things are safe - being practical, I would take my cell phone because I will need that, and my computer if possible, for the information they contain. Life in the modern world, eh?
Of course you would take Cooper and Magic. They are members of the family!
Funny - it never occurred to me to get the phone or the computer. But the necklaces and the rings, the paintings, - the handmade items - those, If I had the chance I would go back for. Even knowing how much data I would lose in not taking those items now that I think about it. They would probably only rise up on the 5th or sixth trip - I guess I am just not that practical when it gets down to it. I can be pragmatic when things are fairly secure - but in just a few seconds - I think that goes out the window for me. Odd because it kind of works in reverse for you?
ReplyDelete