Thursday, September 8, 2011

Just One Thing.....



Right now,
if you were told
you had to 
leave your home forever,
and you could take 
just one thing
with you.... 




what would that
one
thing be?

(You and your family and pets
are not included in this answer!)


Maybe you would grab a precious photo?

Or are you more practical and you would grab your computer with all your life's information?

Perhaps your family photo albums are most important to you?

Would you grab a piece of your family heirloom jewelry?

Could a great-grandfather's pocket watch be the one thing you would take?

Tell me....
are you more practical,
 romantic,
or a sentimental?

Might that one thing be an antique family Bible?

There might be an antique priceless coin you could take with you?


Would the romantic in you grab a ribbon- tied stack of loveletters?



What would you take?












(Thank you, Pinterest,  for all of these lovely images!)

38 comments:

Divine Theatre said...

Geesh! I cannot even contemplate the thought!
Yes. I am a party pooper!

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

I'm the practical type. I would grab important papers first. Keepsakes, if they were in my path on the way out. Memories are in my heart.

Rebecca said...

I have NO idea. I am a practical type, too...but if the necessity came suddenly, there's not TELLING what I'd do!

(I just realize that I probably OUGHT to have a plan--just in case!)

Anonymous said...

My daughter had to evacuate her home in two hours the other day for the Texas wildfires near Austin. It was interesting what she thought of over the next few days when she reviewed her choices. Of course they had time to get family and pets out but when they got to their relatives house and discussed everything, it was an interesting discussion. It is hard to imagine until you are really in the situation. Of course the kids have an entirely different set of criteria. It has given me reasons to stop and think about it too.
They are extremely lucky that they will have a home to go back to in a couple of days. So many friends and neighbors do not. They are feeling a little guilty and want to go back to help the others soon.

laxsupermom said...

Only one thing? It'd have to be our external hard drive. We have all our important info + all our photos on it. So I guess I went practical and sentimental. Great question!

Debbiedoos said...

I would have to take my boys baby albums, those cannot be replaced. I hate to contemplate this thought even but that is the first thing that came to mind seeing you stated the exclusions.

D.B. said...

I've always known I would take our photo albums.

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

I have thought of this before. I have original pastels of my children done when they were both 3. I would grab those first. If I had time I would get my laptop and jewelry. Interesting post and very appropriate in light of the recent weather/fire related happenings.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Hubby would probably take important info from his business and me, my family heirloom jewelry, from grandma, mil, mother and from my girls when they were small! God! I hope that will never have to be the case! Several years ago it happened to us with our country home, there was a flud, the house was 30 meters under water, a big beautiful home and gardens; we were able to take everything out of it, though. 3 years later we sold it to a foundation for homeless children, it was HUGE!! Come visit for better thoughts, I still cry over it sometimes. Luv ya! FABBY

Brenda Pruitt said...

If I had enough time, I'd grab my computer, my camera and my homemade quilts.
Brenda

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Alison, I have actually thought alot about this over the past months, since the tornados ripped through our part of the state leaving so much devestation...I looked around my home at so many "found" treasures that I love...my family photos....things that belonged to my mother...to tell you the truth I have not been able to pick just one thing. I decided I would have to get a box and take all of the above!

Lou Cinda

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

And I am DEFINITELY the sentimental type! MY husband would have to get the practical stuff!

Lou Cinda

Blondie's Journal said...

This is a tough one, Alison! I've never thought beyond family and the dogs. I have some great pieces of furniture, but that wouldn't be practical, would it? I have to think about this one!

XO,
Jane

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

Thought provoking. The computer b/c it has both important documents and photos on it. But really, people are the only thing I can think of that's irreplaceable. My parent's house burned to the ground when my brother was a baby. (I wasn't born yet.) My mom ran back in the house against everyone's wishes to get my brother. She made it back out with him and there she stood in her nightgown and watched everything else burn to the ground. They later went back and retrieved charred photos. In a time like that, you realize things are just things.

lvroftiques said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
lvroftiques said...

I'm practical so I'd grab my laptop first...If there was any chance of grabbing one more thing? It would be my grand piano....Can't you just see me pushing that huge ole thing with all my might out the door...It was a gift from my husband who knew I couldn't play a note, and bought it for me anyway because he knew it was my hearts desire. I will never part with it if I don't have to. *winks* Vanna

P.S. That last deleted comment was me...sorry.
Oh and now can we play the "You just wond 20 Mil" in the lottery what would you buy game? *winks*

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

I guess I am sentimental. I would have my hubby grab the computer with the papers and photos on it, I would grab all the baby albums and albums of my GRANDMOTHER that I have! They have pictures of Phila., Pa; where I grew up when there were DIRT ROADS!!!!! My Father was also a photographer during WW2 and I have many of his HISTORICAL photos. I better put all these things together in one place so they would be easy to grab. This is really making me think!!! Great post! XO, pinky

The enchanted home said...

My very first inclination was to say my computer BUT in thinking about it, I realized my DVD's and my pictures from my kids when they were younger is by far the most valuable thing I have. They are truly priceless and have put many a smile on my face time and time again :)

Debi said...

My stash of cash!

Karen said...

I don't know! I don't even like to think about it. I would want to be given 15 minutes to grab whatever I could, not the choice of one thing. Too hard! Very thought provoking though!
xo~
Karen

Richard Cottrell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Richard Cottrell said...

Sissy Dog the Beagle! Richard from My Old Historic House.

Gypsy Heart said...

Photographs ~ no doubt about it.

Very thought provoking question that I feel everyone should really give thought to.

xo
Pat

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Well, I have been so bad about putting all the pics into folders, I couldn't grab all of them. So, I would just grab some of the important papers and go, if possible on the way out some of the jewelry. Otherwise it is just all stuff and stuff can be replaced. As long as all my family was ok, I would be find with nothing. Great question. Hugs, Marty

Richard Cottrell said...

Oh, I messed up, pets are not includes. I guess I would have to pick the large German ,Meissen, figure group right inside the front door.I put it there so it could be gotten out fast. It might be the single item that is worth the most in my whole house. I have told my family if the house catches a fire, get Sissy Dog first and then that statue, after that I guess me? If I had to start over, it would be nice to have a little ,something-something, that would be worth a little pocket change, for a new nest. Thanks for working my P-mind. Richard from My old Historic House.

Karena said...

Wow difficult although I too have thought of this many times. I have a portrait done of my son & daughter when they were young, it does not include my grandchildren though. Photos, though of course now my computer has everything on it.

My engagement ring from my late husband, as a sentimental item.

Come and join my Fashion Giveaway from Fresh Produce!!

xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

Savannah Granny said...

We have had to evacuate three times for hurricanes after staying through one. We have been faced with a similar situation. Fortunately we were only limited to what we could get into three autos. You can get a lot into three autos.
If I could only take one thing it would be my Father's bible. He was a minister and I have the last bible that he used. Not sure what God would think but I would cheat and take his written sermons also. I think that would be all right.
Thanks for this thought provoking post.
Blessings for a great weekend.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I can't think of anything that I would grab in that situation. Although there are so many things I cherish, in the end, they are just things and you can't take them with you in the end. As long as you are alive, there are always memories to be made and things to be had. :) Wishing you a beautiful day. Blessings, Tammy

Ricki Treleaven said...

I would grab the portrait of my daughters and run like heck!

Mr. Art @ Home can take care of practical, important papers.

An Oasis in the Desert said...

Hate the thought, but would probably grab my laptop with all my photos.
:) CAS

Sarah said...

Alison, I honestly don't know. I've been thinking about friends nearby who had to evacuate this week. So many near Austin have lost everything this week. Things are things and in the end they are just that. My heart aches for so many across our country after the recent fires, floods, and storms in recent weeks. I count my blessings. ~ Sarah

michele said...

nothing.

if my true treasures are safe, nothing will be missed.

michele

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I can't even think about it. My hubs and I have tried to talk about it...I get too upset. I think pictures would be first...but I love my family heirlooms. I pray I never have to make that decision!

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Oh my Alison, this is a tough one! That would be such a heart breaking situation, one I can't imagine having to endure. I would say my photos, but these days some are on the computer and some are in albums. I imagine the children's childhood albums for sure and would be so thankful that the two "safes" you allowed for...family and pets...were definately out of harms way!
Good to ponder, we should have a plan.
Blessings,
Cindy

Red Rose Alley said...

Your old pictures made my heart sing. I adore pictures, and they are the memories of our lives. My dad had a stop watch like that, and it was handed down to me when he passed away. Don't ya just love old treasures?
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

Cheri said...

Just today, we found out a friend of ours parents went to town for errands. On the way home, the sheriff stopped them, notifying them their area had been evacuated and they were NOT allowed back home. Their home burned to the ground, along with their 2 dogs and kitty. They didn't even have a toothbrush.

This made us really stop and think - what WOULD we take if we had just a few minutes? Still deep in thought on that one. Just surreal. Prayers for all facing this.

Privet and Holly said...

Gosh, this REALLY
has me thinking, A!
Most likely, old photos
of the kids and our
family, pre-computer
storage. Makes me think
I should get it ALL on
the computer,now. And
my daughter's first
album of artwork, as each
piece is so very precious.
Beautiful post.
xx Suzanne

Anonymous said...

my list of passwords mailed to the two precious painted portraits of sons :)