What Would You Grab?

I think many of us in the Western world take our homes and belongings for granted. I know I do. My own little house is located just a few miles east of the famed San Andreas fault line, but I assume in the next “big one” that my house and stuff will be fine…which may not be the case!!

I’m sure most of folks who’ve lost their homes in the California wildfires had never imagined when they woke up and went about their day that in less than 24 hours their house would be gone. One woman stood before the ashes of her parent’s house and said tearfully, “All the family heirlooms are gone. Everything. I have nothing to hand down to my children.” I felt her pain.

Even though I know it’s just stuff (and I’m sure she knows it’s just stuff), still some belongings in our lives have a strong sentimental value or are so darn special we can’t imagine not having them.

So this got me thinking: What would I grab if I had only 10 minutes to evacuate? Of course legal documents, photos, my laptop and my purse (with my phone, credit cards, etc.) are the boring “musts”, but I wasn’t sure what else.

I asked my 24-year-old daughter and without hesitation she said “Radar.” He’s a small teddy bear she received one Christmas from her uncle Dan. Though well worn Radar still brings comfort.

So I put on my thinking cap and came up with a few possibilities of things I’d grab. My jewelry because I love it, wear it and it’s small!

I’d try to grab at least a few of our paintings. This one is by friend and plein air painter Kevin Courter.

And I might grab some of the knives my Dad made me and some of my favorite antique sterling smalls.

I wouldn’t bother with clothes, shoes, books, DVDs, electronics, etc. That stuff is all easily replaceable. I suppose it’s not surprising that most of the things I would try to save are either vintage, antique or unique!

What special things would you grab in an evacuation??