The items that I would take with me if I had to be relocated to another country at the spare of the moment are my photo album, bible, and blanket. I selected these items because the photo album holds the memories from past important events in my life as well as my family and other people I care about. The family bible has key events listed it. I chose the blanket because it is customary every time my family and I go out of town someone makes sure we have a blanket. I feel that if I could only keep one of the three items I would be devastated to have to choose between the photo album and the bible. I would give up the blanket in hope of obtaining another one in the future. Ironically, through this exercise I realize that in my family culture we actually take a blanket and pillow on every trip. (I really have not figured out why.) Until, I had to consider what I would take with me in this exercise I would not have thought very much about the blanket being a part of our culture. Back in 1993 (before I had children) I lost my mother to a house fire and from that experience I realize how important pictures are to family and the bible. Many pictures and things were destroyed. The few things I was able to savage still smell like smoke today. The benefit to the smoke smell pictures is that my children were given the opportunity to see what their grandmother looked like. Explaining that sequence of events without those few little picture would have been more challenging.
Kvonya,
ReplyDeleteI too found out that were a couple of things that I never considered as my family culture until this exercise. Pictures tell a lot of stories I am glad you could s secure some of them.
Thanks for sharing.
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ReplyDeleteHi Kvonya
ReplyDeleteFrom the losses you have had, I can understand why you chose to take your photo album, bible, and blanket. I too chose to take God's word with me, but only in my heart. You know it is illegal in some countries to have a bible. The next thing you know, we'll be featured on the Locked up Abroad series(smile). I think it is interesting that you were not aware until this exercise that your family had established the tradition of taking a blanket on trips.
Two of our items are similar - photographs and the Bible. For my family, too, these are very important and meaningful. Photographs are always nice to keep fond memories near, especially if we are in the given situation. Furthermore, the Word is also something that is important to keep nearby given that we would be unsure what kind of religion we would be stepping into.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Kvonya! Have a great remainder of your weekend!
Kvonya,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it would be devastating to leave some of your family memory behind but that is the sacrifice that most people had to pay in order for them to be rescued from danger. I have also undergone similar experience during hurricane Katrina 2005, where we had to leave everything behind to save our lives. Life is the most important compared to pictures and other important things. In your situation you retrieved the most treasurable item, the pictures. Is a pity you lost your mom, take heart.