Stolen from thunderclap8
Friday discussion
Your home is on fire. All of your important papers and documents are locked in a fireproof safe and you’re 100% sure they’ll survive. You have time to grab just one sentimental item on the way out. What is it?
That’s incredibly easy. :) My gearbook. The big leatherbound thing, inspired by a discussion with revelation8 long ago, that has drawings, letters and memories from perhaps a hundred people.
Heck, with most of my photos from the last four to six years online, and most of my childhood photos at mom’s, I’d miss little of that.
I guess what I’d miss most are my b/w art photos, almost none of which are scanned.
If I had a second option for “sentimental grab”, it would be my external hard drive. old letters, old reports, old chats … there is some serious history there.
What about you?
(thanks thunderclap!)
That box of pictures that I keep meaning to sort out and scan in but haven’t.
This is assuming all pets and people are safe, of course?
Cool thing, I did this sort of exercise with students in Dubai, though they could take five things and had to explain why. The top two were the Koran (by description, a family heirloom type edition, not a newer one) and their laptops. Those students in a nutshell – part traditional, part modern.
Assuming that my kitties are safe and sound, my jewelry armoire. Therein lies my mother’s engagement and wedding rings from my father, my grandmother’s wedding band, a bracelet that belonged to my great-grandmother, jewelry I wore in high school when I was someone else entirely, my class ring, the silver wave ring I bought when I decided to worship the goddess, the onyx set that belonged to Becca’s grandmother that I wore to my first Homecoming dance, the ring Tom gave me after our first year together, my leather collar from Cat’s Meow, the ring Nick bought for me at a craft show on our first date, the ring he bought for me a year later from the same jewelcrafter, my engagement ring, part of the broken necklace Adam gave me for my birthday, jewelry from my travels, jewelry I made with my own hands, watches I assembled myself from scrap parts…and much more.
In short, my entire history rendered into loops and whorls of metal and gemstones. I would save that if I could. Nothing else remotely compares.
The cats… but then it would be a painting done by a dear friend who passed away several years ago.
I find it very interesting that photos never even crossed my mind as something to take. I went through last year and scanned all the ones that really matter to me, and they’re all backed up on flickr, so that problem is moot now.
Progress!
My father’s toolbox. My mom gave it to me when she cleaned out and sold her house a couple years ago and I put the only other thing that I have of his inside of it. Thinking of that, I have two pictures of me with my father (he passed away when I was two and photos of us together are rare, though mom does have a few more), I should probably put one of them in there just to keep it safe.
I’d grab M`jit, Booger and Poozer, but if they’re considered out and safe, my portfolio of comic pages.
Like, I’ll assume my kitty is safe already.
I’d probably grab my teddy bear, Snuggles. I’ve had this bear since I was very wee – I can’t remember not having him.
I’d miss my laptop and books, too, but I imagine both of those would be easily replaced by my insurance. There are two pendants I’d miss, too, that have some sentimental value.
*makes mental notes: check renter’s insurance to make sure it covers fire, start making backups of important data, and buy fireproof safe/file box*
Oh, I didn’t think of the teddy bear! I have one that was given to my by my grandfather for my first Christmas. He’s threadbare and much the worse for wear, but he’s still there.
Damn, that would be a hard call. Unless I get to scanning those pics in. Both are irreplaceable. Fortunately, my most irreplaceable jewelry is constantly on me.
I’m currently (as in it’s uploading right now) backing up all the files on my computer to a remote server courtesy of mozy, so assuming the fire isn’t *too* imminent, most of my files would be secure.
If Digit and Tamland are safe, I’m happy. I like my stuff, but I don’t hold much of it in sentimental reverence. However, I hate upheaval, so this fire scenario would greatly upset me.
I’d probably choose to bring “The Ivory Horn of Mithra”, a fully illustrated fantasy novella I wrote in fifth grade. I’m assuming my Grandmother’s anniversary diamond would survive the flames. Diamonds are good like that.
They’re, like, forever or something.
That’s cool – I’m coming to really like picasa, especially with their photoapplication. uploading is so cake!
My jump drive with my writing on it.