Back to “normal”
While fires continue to rage in other parts of the county, the fire that threatened my neighborhood has been controlled and no longer poses a threat.
As we try and get back into a routine I cannot forget the fear and uncertainty that permeated our household for a day or so. I don’t want to forget because those who are still in danger or, even worse, lost their homes will have so much rebuilding to do – in both house and spirit.
For those of you who have followed my short encounter, thank you for your concern and support. It really is amazing the connection I have made with so many of you through this blog. It was nice to know that we had offers to move to both Memphis and Wisconsin if needed. That’s the kind of people there are out there and it’s very nice to know.
I hope that the other 1,000+ families who have lost their homes have people looking out for them as well. If you would like to help make a difference from afar you can donate to the American Red Cross of San Diego and those donations will help support the recovery of San Diego.
On another note, this experience really teaches you what’s important in life. My wife and I spent so much time and energy purchasing and moving into this home. We’ve filled it with memories but we ‘ve also filled it with furniture, electronics, knick knacks and a lot of toys. Stuff. But in the end the only things we packed into that car were things that had sentimental value. Old track medals. First locks of hair. Photos.
So, my friends, take some time out today to think about what is most important. We often spend so much time acquiring things or working to acquire things. In the end, that stuff is not the important stuff. It’s easy to forget that. So, I leave you with a homework assignment. You can leave your answers in my comment section or you can just file it away in your heart but I ask you to consider this…
Why?
14 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Scrapbooks
CDs of our digital pictures
my daughter’s “puppy”, “big blanket”, and “little blanket”
my favorite afghan
What more do you need in life than memories and a good night’s sleep?
Comment by Ginger — October 24, 2007 @ 8:34 am
Glad to hear “normalcy” has returned to your life.
My answer to your question is simple:
Wife & son (for obvious reasons) and computer (got lot’s of family history there). That’s it.
Comment by Eric — October 24, 2007 @ 8:35 am
My pets, some photographs, my laptop, my phone, my iPod and my camera. And everything after laptop is negotiable ’cause it can be replaced.
Glad you are out of danger now.
Comment by Kizz — October 24, 2007 @ 8:41 am
Glad to hear you’re safe and back to normal [as normal can be]. I’ve never really thought about what I’d take if I had to get out quickly. I guess I probably should put some thought in to that. You just never have the time when you’re in the midst of an emergency.
Comment by Christine — October 24, 2007 @ 9:03 am
After family members (including the dog): photo albums, baby books, box of cards and letters written to us, our laptops
(for the pictures stored there), our lock box with birth certificates,and the stuff the kids sleep with. I could care less about anything else. I am so glad you are out of danger.
Comment by Memphislis — October 24, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Go happy to hear all is alright! I asked myself the same question as I watched the news last night – well glanced – do you ever get to watch something when twins are up?
I would grab my little safe that has important papers, my late mom’s jewlery for senitmental purposes, my external harddrive for my photos, my wedding album and a couple of toys and lovies for the girls that would comfort them, load up the family and the two dogs and get out of there! Everything else can stay. Again – thanks for keeping us updated!
Comment by Dana-Mom to Toddler Twin Girls!! — October 24, 2007 @ 9:38 am
Very relieved to hear the news.
I think about what I’d take a lot, and, I really don’t know.
Comment by Busy Mom — October 24, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
I have a bag packed with all our important things that I couldn’t bear to lose: our wedding day photos (because they aren’t online anywhere and I can’t wait to show them to the kids one day), their baby books (including birth certificates, pictures, locks of hair,and the journals we kept when they were in the NICU), and our insurance (house, life, etc) papers. Of course I’d throw in a couple of comfort items for the kids, but really, that’s it. It’s ready to go at any time.
Comment by Amy — October 24, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Glad you’re okay. Besides family and pets, all would only need my laptop and as many photos as possible.
Comment by whit — October 24, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
I, also, am glad that you and your family are fine. I was a little worried.
What would we take? Pictures and family history, B & Z’s baby books, the cats, our scriptures, my desktop and the laptop … and as many clothes and books that we can fit in the vehicles.
(I’m a terrible bibliophile.)
Though I hope the day never comes when we have to make decisions like that.
Comment by Allanna — October 24, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
I’m delurking to say how thankful I am to hear that you are out of danger and can rest a bit easier in your home.
As far as what I’d take, obviously my kids and cats, then it would be all our pictures, CDs with pictures, important papers, our computers, my jewelry box (which is actually full of souvenirs and mementos and very little jewelry), baby books, the baby afghan that my great-grandmother crocheted for me when I was born and that my daughter, her namesake, came home from the hospital in, and if there was time and room in the vehicles, my collection of cookbooks.
Comment by Kater in WA — October 24, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
Glad you’re safe. I’ve had to pack boxes when preparing for hurricanes. I’d just do a head count and run.
Comment by Becky — October 25, 2007 @ 6:11 am
That’s one of those terrible questions that I truly hope that I never have to answer.
Comment by Deanna — October 26, 2007 @ 9:53 am
As I clicked the link to visit your site tonight, it occurred to me that you were in San Diego, and I hoped that you and your family were okay. I’m glad everything has worked out.
Comment by ShotgunDaddy — October 26, 2007 @ 8:17 pm