posted on January 14, 2001 10:48:01 AM new
A thread over on EBO about having difficulty parting with inventory triggered a memory of a game my friends and I have occasionally played.
Your house is on fire. Nobody's home but you - the pets are alll at the vet, and all your important papers and family photos are at your lawyer's (hey, suspend disbelief for a minute), so you don't have to worry about them.
You can save only so much of your stuff as you can carry in one trip. The place is going to burn to the ground, so if you want to keep it, you've got to save it NOW.
What do you carry out the door with you?
Me: 1835 family tree sampler worked by my great x5 aunt; mid-19th c. Flemish? oil portrait I bought on layaway when I was really broke 15 years ago; my great-grandfather's copper desk lamp; and an original Frank Lloyd Wright linen silk screen textile.
[ edited by HartCottageQuilts on Jan 14, 2001 10:48 AM ]
posted on January 14, 2001 10:50:43 AM new
Assuming all the pets are out of the house, I think I would grab my VHS movie collection. The most I could carry, prolly wrapped in a sheet and dragging out the door.
posted on January 14, 2001 11:05:39 AM new
My mom/urn, my favorite pair of jeans, and some of the peanut's drawings, which are plastered all over the house.
I might grab MrJulesy's Music/Movie collection, if he didn't piss me off earlier in the day.
posted on January 14, 2001 11:05:50 AM new
First and foremost, the backpack. It is kept in perpetual readiness sans perishables against immediate need. Then, my great uncle's(now my own)fishing gear, the guitar, and my anorak. I can survive with that, under most conditions. Soon, I'd add a laptop to that list. Couldn't miss connecting.
Serendipity & Peace...
posted on January 14, 2001 11:22:43 AM new
Wow---great question. Without the photos and family papers, which are what I usually think of first, it becomes harder. What is irreplaceable?
The most important thing I can remember is a diary I kept while traveling in Europe some years ago. It's irreplaceable to me because it records all my thoughts and hopes and dreams of the most exciting time of my life. I plan to show it to my grandchildren one day. It would break my heart to know it was gone.
Now where IS it???? LOL! I need to put it near the door.
I'd shed a few tears if I couldn't grab my kimono collection, too, but surprisingly I don't think that would be as bad.
A lucky coral ring that's been with me forever and ever. An apron my late grandmother embroidered for me when I played Betsey Ross in an elementary school play. A silver locket that belonged to my father's mother which he brought when he emigrated to America.
posted on January 14, 2001 11:34:39 AM new
Interesting!
I used to worry about this kind of stuff and tried to keep some of my favorite things in one place in case I ever had to leave my home quickly.
Funny thing is, a few years back I had an emergency situation at my home and had to leave PRONTO! I grabbed the two kids, ran out, and never gave one thought to anything else. I was in such a panic that even if I had a sec, I don't think I would have been able to think about what I'd really want to take and I totally forgot about my little stash of odd stuff I loved!
posted on January 14, 2001 12:11:54 PM new
Wow, this thread has made me realize how little I care about most of my stuff. If my family/pets and important papers/photos were already safe, I suppose I'd grab my computer so I wouldn't lose the data on it.
My bedspread and pillow shams would get secondary consideration, as would my mannequin, Lydia.
posted on January 14, 2001 12:14:04 PM new
I have a kit in the trunk of the car that
covers if the house is destroyed or for some reason I can't go home again.
All important documents at home are in a fireproof safe.
If the place were burning I would might grab my everyday jewelry box and/or camera bag. Both are easy to carry and high value.Neither are worth delay if the place is really going up. Fires progress quickly.
Everything is replaceable.
posted on January 14, 2001 12:16:27 PM new
I used to live in a condominium complex with a faulty smoke alarm. After the third time of having to evacute quickly, I realized how little "things" really matter - memories can't be destroyed by fire and for everything else, insurance would cover replacement.
I just grabbed the practical stuff - purse which contained car key, money and credit cards (which would be useful if I had to find another place to stay) and coat and boots if it were winter.
posted on January 14, 2001 01:16:06 PM new
This faced a friend of mine in the recent San Diego fires (After the cats and photos and papers were packed) A grim situation
As a Civil War collector - the better part of 2 bedrooms of my house are filled with historical items. The bulk of them are unique and completly irreplacable. I am their caretaker and protector. They must survive in order that future collectors and scholars might use them.
There is a stong likelyhold that I would keep throwing muskets, tintypes, swords, letters, and documents out the window until the fire got to me or somebody with better sense pulled me out. . .
A 28 star US Flag and it's display case would be first - It is perhaps one of the only examples in private hands today. A rifle musket carried by a corp in the 147th New York - killed on the first day at Gettysburg would be in the air when the flag hit outside the window.
Now - I'm going to go check the smoke detector again.
posted on January 14, 2001 01:23:59 PM new
My family had a fire in April 6, 1989. I was upstairs in the shower, my brother and mom were downstairs. My dad was at work. My mom and brother were screaming for me to get out of the house NOW!!. So I threw on a housecoat and ran downstairs and outside and stood out there with my mom and brother watching the smoke and flames pour out all the windows. We didn't give a second thought to saving anything but our lives. If I had another fire (and if the animals were really not at home) I wouldn't try to save anything.
posted on January 14, 2001 03:03:07 PM new
So, executivegirl, even if you had the opportunity to save some "stuff" (as in my hypothetical) without losing your own skin, you wouldn't?
posted on January 14, 2001 04:19:25 PM new
We really did have an 'alarm' in the middle of the night. Called the fire dept. immediately, while DH grabbed the kids and carried them to the car-it was freezing! I grabbed the dog and cat and threw them in the car, along with of all things, my new sewing machine! (documents are in the safe).
It turned out to just be the furnace smoking, it needed a new squirrel cage. But everyone did get a hoot out of my car full of kids, dogs, and sewing machine!
I really didn't think about anything but the kids and the pets-you just don't.
posted on January 14, 2001 04:49:17 PM new
Well, the pets are the big thing, but you got them safely out of the way for this exercise, , so I'd try to get as many of my books (1000s) and movies (about 800) out as I could. And my collection of animal actor stills/info.
posted on January 14, 2001 05:27:57 PM new
I take you at your word...ALL of my papers, old letters, files and photographs are safely in my attorney's hands, and my dogs and cats, and my family, are out of harm's way.
1. The wedding ring from my first marriage and my grandfather's watch.
2. My daddy's fishing tackle box.
3. My computer's CPU...all else is just peripheral.
4. A box of things (quilts, baby book, etc.) I have from my son's baby days.
5. My Holt Howard mustard pixie...he was, after all, the first, and all the rest is insured.
Hmmm...interesting. It seems to me that my life could use scaling back...
posted on January 14, 2001 05:39:07 PM new
You are one heavy lifter, beth,if you can carrry Daddy's fishing tackle, your CPU, and a box of quilts and baby stuff. I think you tie with onezippyone (full backpack, fishing gear, anorak, guitar, and "maybe" a laptop) Are either of you old enough to remember "Supermarket Sweep"?
plsmith, you're right. You and nutspec ARE cheating! LOL
posted on January 14, 2001 06:06:28 PM new
This may not be quit to subject, but sure reminds me of the time my neighbors house burnt down. They were gone camping and the place burned down.
Well when they got back we were talking to their kids. Found out they saved all of their photo albums, important papers and other important items. Seems they had the forthought to take these items camping with them. True Story
posted on January 14, 2001 06:15:13 PM new
Nutspec - May I politely suggest that if the items you are telling us about are really irreplaceable, and of historic value it is a dead certainty that they are at far too much risk in a normal frame home. They are at risk of fire/storm and theft. If they are in certain areas they are in danger from flood and earthquake.
Is there no way you can secure them in a safe place without losing access to them?
Are they something you trade actively or display to people interested in them? Would a university or the Smithsonian hold them in trust for you and still allow access while you are alive or are you looking to will them to certain people?
There are special storeage building in our metro area that are steel reinforced concrete
with fire suppresion systems - 24 hour armed security, with storerooms and lockers like a safe deposit box at a bank. You can rent them and they are safe from fire and natural disaster to a far greater degree than a home.
posted on January 14, 2001 07:51:57 PM newHCQ, daddy's tackle box has a shoulder strap...the ring is on my finger, and the watch in my pocket. The truly precious baby stuff is in a rubbermaid tub, about 24" X 14", and the mustard guy will nestle happily in the baby quilt in the tub. The CPU weighs about 12 lbs, and, the tub (maybe 8 lbs.) will stack nicely on it. Actually, I think I'll throw a tube of mascara into the box, along with my purse over my shoulder (with the tackle box)...see, I'd really like to just stick that stuff in the car, and pull on outta here.
I already have a couple of changes of clothes, plus an emergency survival kit (some nonperishable food, water, two blankets, two jackets, first aid kit, flashlights, flares, and bank card) in the car...hell, I'm ready to set up housekeeping!
If I could just get a turn up on "Supermarket Sweep" (yep, I remember), then the larder would be full as well, hey?
Yes, Maui, Holt Howard and I are still going strong....and the mustard guy, well, he just has this feisty and mischievous look on his face....one look at him, and you know you're one lucky lady, in for a hot and spicy time.
posted on January 14, 2001 08:15:15 PM new
I have two suitcases in the closet, both are full of negatives. Decades of picture taking, from Venezuela to Alaska my life on film. This is the only thing I have I couldn't replace, it gets saved first.
posted on January 14, 2001 09:44:48 PM new
If all the people and pets are out - and I'm just grabbing the one thing I'd miss the most - I'd have to grab my alter-ego Gwyneth - the only doll I ever loved!
Of course, if it really happened - it'd be good bye and it was nice knowing ya Gwyneth.
