I quite frequently have “what if” thoughts. This isn’t uncommon, most people would have them. But I probably have them more than the average person. There are lots of trees outside my bedroom window and my house is not what one would call a “quiet house”, despite knowing this, whenever I hear a sound as I’m trying to sleep, my mind invariably goes to “what would happen if someone came into the house and attacked me? Dad is up the other end of the house and I would probably be dead before he would hear me scream”. Yes, my mind goes there. So naturally, I’ve thought about what would happen if there was a fire. What would I take?

In planning this list, I decided I would be allowed to take 10 items and not to factor in what if they’ve already been eaten by the fire. So here are my 10 in no particular order (it is a given that I would take my cat and any other pets, and any clothes that I could):

1. Collage of photos of Mum

The collage my sister and I made for our Dad

A few months after Mum died, my sister and I made a collage of photos of her for our Dad’s birthday. It has photos ranging from her as a child, to wedding photos and naturally lots of photos with her and Dad and her and us. While there are many photos that didn’t make it to the collage, it’s basically a photo timeline of Mum’s life and if they were the only photos I had left, I would be OK with that.

2. MacBook

Originally meant to be bought as a present to myself when I found a full time job, I got tired of waiting, was feeling quite down about my unemployment predicament and as a pick me up (and also to replace my piece of crap computer), I bought myself the laptop I’m currently writing on, my MacBook Pro. Despite being expensive, I love this computer and the fact that I was able to buy it for myself. I would also hate to lose all the files on here which leads me to…

3. External hard drive

I have a 2TB external hard drive which holds photos from 2008 on it, a whole lot of music, television shows and movies, digital copies of all my university work, as well as excerpts from the five books I have started writing (I will probably only finish one or two of them, but I would hate to lose the work). I feel it is something that most people would take if they have one. It’s the modern day equivalent of a bunch of photo albums.

4. Signed copy of The Notebook

While not literary genius The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is one of my favourite books and movies. It’s such a sweet love story and it’s the book that made me fall in love with Nicholas Sparks’ writing. I was lucky enough to meet him at a book signing in Sydney late last year where he signed my beloved copy of The Notebook which I have read around 30 times. I would not want to part from this.

5. Harry Potter books

While technically this counts as seven things, I’m combining them to be one. It’s no secret I love Harry Potter, I’ve spoken about my love for it many times before. I understand that you may not understand why I need to take these books when I can just buy them again, but I love my copies and their hardcover covers that have recently become exceedingly difficult to find new or cheap.

6. Gold necklace with Mum’s ring and earrings on it

When Mum died I was asked to take her earrings; these small gold hoops that she bought specifically to wear in hospital. Since that day, I have worn these earrings and Mum’s eternity ring on a necklace. It is usually the only necklace I wear. A few years ago, I had to replace the necklace as I just used a crappy one that was in the house when I needed it. Dad bought me a beautiful gold chain from a gold souk in Dubai and if I ever lost this necklace and what is on it, I would probably have a heart attack.

7. Letter book I had with Mum

A few weeks before Mum died, we started a letter book. It is one of my regrets in life that we didn’t start one much sooner. While it may seem silly, I love being able to look at her handwriting and knowing that she touched those pages. The letter book only has around eight pages filled but I really cherish those pages.

8. Bohemian Crystal vase from Grandma

Before I was born and when I was quite little, my Grandma worked in a gift shop. She was always one for planning ahead and had bought my 21st birthday present when I was quite little, possibly before I was even alive. Sadly, she died around 18 months before I turned 21, but I still got a gift from her, it was a gorgeous Bohemian Crystal vase and a Bohemian Crystal bell. She had kept these for years just for my 21st birthday, I would hate to lose them.

9. Pashmina from Dad

My Dad, for the most part, has fantastic taste and is someone I would call quite fashionable. I love to take him clothes shopping as he is honest, knows what looks good on me, knows my size and what I’m usually willing to pay. When he was visiting Jerusalem a few years ago, he bought me and my sister these absolutely gorgeous pashminas. The other day I was saying to him that I wish he’d bought more before he told us they were quite expensive. I love my pashmina and I use it a lot and it’s special to me because it’s from Dad and it’s from Jerusalem.

10. Collage my sister made me when I turned 18

I have included a photo timeline of my Mum’s life, and I think it’s only fair that I save a photo timeline of my life. My sister made me these two gorgeous collages of photos of us growing up and I took them with me when I lived away from home on campus for three years and it made me feel at home.

Why did I choose all of these items? For the most part, they are all irreplaceable. Many of them also have sentimental value. Because at the end of the day, the rest is just stuff.

Now it’s your turn. Your house is burning down, apart from pets, humans and some bare essentials, what would you take and why? Even though I didn’t include clothes (pashmina is an accessory), you most certainly can. 

Pictures supplied by myself, Featured Picture

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