It's Saturday morning, five am. Both dogs are up milling around. They have been eating thin sliced Turkey and they keep wanting more. Up and down I have been moving from the computer seat. "That's enough," I announced, "There will be no more. Now they are both sulking. "H" whining, "I" stalking off, shooting me back a accusing glance. We are starting the day off right at the Swift house.
I wrote on this Blog last week about hoarding. How we as humans find possessions so important. We want more and more. Never ending. It set me to thinking about what we have in this house. And what I would really find important. Really getting serious about it. I found it surprising to myself how quickly I could find the answer. I have over the last week asked others what would be their most important items they would choose if they could only pick five. Some gave me five, some only one. Some didn't answer. I Will start with my list, it is as follows.
Everyone knows I love my shoes and clothes. Since 1984 I have started over several times after losing almost everything I owned. But when it comes right down to it my shoes and clothes wouldn't even make it to my list. Number one on my list, My Mothers Bible. I just even love the feel of it. I rub it on my face as her hands have held it so many hours. I also keep my birth certificate and marriage licence it it so I would have those too. Number two and three I will lump together. Not separating them. They would be the pictures of my children when they were small. I had lost all my pictures. Their Dad made copies on his computer several years ago. I will never lose them again. Number four, A large picture frame in my dining room that my grandson Will gave me a couple of years ago. It has many pictures in it. It has one of my little sister Brenda and I together on her wedding day. There are many pictures of all of my family. Number five would be the Afghan my Mother made my little sister. It belongs to Will. I have had it for a few years, keeping it for him. Actually he needs to give it to one of his girls. So that is my list. I have many things my daughter and son have gave me that I would hate to lose. But this is my list. My most prized possessions.
At the bowling alley last Sunday I asked Billie and Chris this question. Billie said her family picture and her jewelry box. Chris said her hope chest. Of course in her hope chest is things her Aunt Dixie and grandmother made her, plus pictures. So she made a smart choice i think. They were both busy and only had time for one pick.
My brother Bud when I asked him said his number one choice would be his Martin guitar. His words were, "I guess it would be my old Martin. And some of my boots." So I guess he gave me two. Everyone knows how Bud loves his guitar. You think of Bud you think of music and his boots. So that was no surprise. Well maybe a little. My sister Geri said number one, The Bible Mom gave her, it still has the letter inside that Mom had wrote her and put in the Bible before she died. Number two a wooden jewelry box that has a picture of Mom and her sisters. Number three was a picture of Mom and Dad's wedding day. Number four she said is a large picture frame she calls her family tree. It has several important pictures in it. Number five would be a picture taken of her and her four children at Amy's graduation she has in a frame. These are her most important possessions.
My husband Steve said number one would be the 42 inch television he bought for me so I could still see television. See he can be sweet sometimes. Number two would be the picture of him and his mother and brothers and sisters when he was young. Number three would be the picture of his daughter Amy in a incubator and him with his hand into the opening. Number four His computer. Number five his locked box which contains important papers.
My friend Joan who is a artist said her first four would be pictures she has painted and wants to leave to her children and her sister. The fifth would be her lock box. My friend Nancy said, Number one would be a tote bag full of pictures she has. Number two her glasses. Number three a blanket. That one surprised me a little. Number four, her album of stories she wrote.
I called my grandson Will yesterday. I think I might have woke him up. He gave me three. Without hesitation he said Number one would be the picture of Brenda that hangs on his living room wall. I feel that somewhere Brenda smiled at that answer. Number two his picture album of when he was a kid. Number three his wedding ring. These were his most important things.
I think when you are first hit with the question you may have a tendency to want the things you use every day. My sister said first her rollers and battery radio. I told her that was fine with me but that would mean she would be losing old pictures that could not be replaced. She then quickly got the picture and changed her mind. It would be hard to start over with only five things. I think its hard for anyone to grasp that every thing you owned would be gone in a instant. That all the little mementos vanished forever.
I just thought this interesting to see what are the things that matter most to us. Because actually most things can be replaced. Clothes, furniture but many can't. Like old pictures and jewelry that may have been handed down or given to us by someone special.So just a little insight into a few people. Myself included. If you happen to read this and I wasn't able to ask you and you have some important items. Things most important to you. Just write on my wall at facebook or email me. I'll write another Blog soon about this same subject and include the ones I missed. I'm interested to know your most important possessions. This is being said to you girls in Kansas. Thanks for taking the time.to stop by today. I'll see you next time you happen by. But for now I'm outta here.
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