Fires are raging to our east and west (Courtesy Tusquitee Ranger District) |
The brilliant George Carlin once did a very funny (and apt) sketch about all the “stuff” we find important in our lives:
“And
I don't know how you are... ...but I need a place to put my stuff. You know how
important that is, that's the whole meaning of life, isn't it? Trying to find a
place for your stuff. That's all your house is... ...your house is a pile of
stuff... ...with a cover on it. It's a
place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. Now, sometimes
you gotta move... ...you gotta get a bigger house. Why? Too much stuff."
So
what happens when an emergency presents itself such as a flood, hurricane or
fire? What kind of “stuff” are you going to take with you?
I
ask this question because we are experiencing terrible wildfires here in
western North Carolina and other southern states. We’ve had no rain since
September and nothing is in the forecast.
Yesterday
a friend who lives in the Lake Lure area (about 60 miles from us) was surprised
by an evacuation order. Earlier in the day she had posted on Facebook they were
fine. By 4pm yesterday afternoon she announced they were leaving.
I
wondered if being close to the fires, she and her husband made a list of
things to take if they were forced to evacuate. They had, and said it was fortunate
because they had little time to gather precious belongings and were understandably very
stressed when the order came through.
That’s
why we are starting our list today. We are fine as I write this. But there are
fires to our east and west and should the worst happen, I don’t want to wonder
why I didn’t save the opal ring my beloved aunt left me.
An emergency evaluation checklist can help get your ducks in a row before facing an evacuation order. One site warned the uncertainty of what to take and what to leave behind in an emergency can leave people paralyzed with doubt and fear. It's best to plan ahead just in case.
Our friend Tom made this uke for me |
The
advice to take insurance policies, prescriptions, passports, birth/marriage
certificates and so forth is common sense. I am also planning to engage an
online backup company so my all my computer files and photos are protected.
But
what about other “stuff”, items of sentimental value or things that can’t be
replaced? I will be putting our marriage album and family photos on the list.
My recipe file. iMac, iPads and iPhones plus chargers. My London International Advertising Award. Chris’ Mum’s carriage
clock. Maybe his sword from the Royal Navy, if I can convince him to take it.
Rowdy,
my Gator hand puppet will be in the car. He is home to all my Gator pinback
buttons from the past 44 years. And original artwork, including two
irreplaceable paintings of our Maryland home. Plus a turtle painting a dear
friend gave me before we moved to the mountains.
Carla Huber's painting of our MD hydrangeas |
My
favorite ukulele will be on the list. And cameras. A couple of radios from my vintage collection. An everglades painting by original
Highwayman Ellis Buckner (my aunt left it to me and I had no clue how much it
was worth.) My favorite piece of Portmeirion china. And Lord knows what else.
There is too much great stuff and too little room.
I
hope we never need the list. But I will rest better tonight knowing we have earmarked
some of the things we love to save should disaster strike.
What
would you take?