Most Prized Personal Material Possession

[captmojo]

A question I have not seen here before now.

I was watching William Shatner's interview show last weekend. It has inspired this thought in me.
If your home were to catch fire (God forbid), and you could go in to save one item, what would it be. We aren't talking about children/spouse/pets/living creatures, only inanimate material possessions.


It has caused a lot of thought for me to come up with my answer. So much, in fact, that my answer is yet to be finalized.

What's yours?

[DevilAlumna]

The first thing that came to mind was my baby blanket.... but darn it, now I have to think more about it too.

[CameronBornAndBred]

My portfolio containing dozens of my paintings. The rest can burn.

[camion]

A book of stories my dad wrote.

[Ben63]

Not really sure. But I think I would be leaning towards my two Duke team signed posters (04-05 and 06-07.) But only one? Would have to go with the 04-05 one because of Shelden and JJ, even though Dockery didn't sign it.

[dukestheheat]

My kites (Flexifoil 15 meter and 12 meter), my kiteboard and also my harness. The kite lines and the pumps are already in the bags, so I'm set. Dang, after reading this thread and even 'thinking' about a fire, I went out into the garage and lined them all up neatly against the wall just in case I need to quickly exit.

Now, I am prepared.

dukestheheat, dukebasketballreport's resident kiteboarder dude.

[dukestheheat]

Devilalumna-

But, but, but, but, but.....WHAT ABOUT all your scuba gear??! We're talking only one thing! You without your scuba gear is like me WITH it! (ie, a fish outta water). :)

dth.

[Windsor]

The two Herend china pieces I have - they are both over 100 years old, and they are the only items of my great grandmother's that survived WWI. They were carried out of Hungary by my (late) grandmother when her father finally found her after the war. I don't know if they are valuable in the material world, but to me they are priceless. Everything else, I can buy new.

[Cormac]

My great-grandfather's shaving cup and brush. My great grandparents used to babysit me until I was three and we moved. Every morning, he would wait to shave until I arrived and we could shave together (by shaving I mean, of course, he would pop out the razor on a Bic disposable razor and I would basically scrape off the soap. Yes, he shaved with hot water and a bar of soap. Far tougher than I'll ever be!).

[bjornolf]

Devilalumna-

But, but, but, but, but.....WHAT ABOUT all your scuba gear??! We're talking only one thing! You without your scuba gear is like me WITH it! (ie, a fish outta water). :)

dth.

SCUBA gear is cool and all, but that's something you can replace. Might even be covered under the insurance. Some things can't be replaced no matter how much money you have. I'd probably grab my computer. It has all my kids' photos in it AND it has my novel representing a decade and a half of wasted creative effort. ;)

[aimo]

Anything my grandmothers gave me/made for me. And 35mm photos and negatives. Things that cannot be replaced.

[YmoBeThere]

I have 3 things that I would deem irreplacable...stuff stored on my server(pictures, etc. have all been backed up there) and two small paintings that were brought over by my grandfather in the 40's. Not sure which I would try to save among the three.

[BlueDevilBaby]

Probably photos of my grandparents and me from Life Magazine that hang in my stairwell - although they could probably be replaced.

[DukieInKansas]

I'll have to give this some thought but off the top of my head I come up with the two family Bibles I have - one from the 1830s and the other from the
1870s. Then there are my mother's cake pans that I have.

[Tommac]

8MM videotapes of my son (who's 17 now) as he is growing up, especially those from each Christmas. Other than important documents, those are the only valuables we keep in a small fireproof safe.

[hurleyfor3]

Either a signed Alexander Calder lithograph hanging on one wall or the 1990 Duke basketball team poster, signed by all the players, on the other. The first is worth more; the second would be very difficult to replace.

[CLT Devil]

A German Luger thats never been fired that my grandfather recovered when his tank unit took over Hitler's Fuherbunker...priceless family artifact.

[DukeUsul]

Wow. I'm not sure I really have anything of value. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

[captmojo]

These are all great answers. Very enlightening as well.

As for myself, after a lot of thought, I choose to follow the example of many who have selected visual nostalgic reminders. I was given an enlarged and framed photo of my father, with me riding on his shoulders at the tender age of three, taken in our old front yard, as a Christmas gift several years ago from the First Mate. I would brave great leaping balls of flame, roaring at my back, to re-enter a burning building to rescue this artifact.

Now, with my decision made, I eagerly sit and wait to read the decisions of others. Thanks to all that have, and those who intend, to answer to this question.

[sue71]

First I was going to say my lockbox of important paperwork. Nah. Then I thought about my laptop. Nah.

Ok, so then I was going to go with my grandfather's writings (he used to keep a journal and write poetry which the family made copies of after he passed away) and the family dvd of home movies & pictures we made for him (gift for his 80th? 90th? birthday). But then I realized that as much as they're MY copies, they are just that- copies. The rest of the family has copies too and so therefore I could make another for myself.

So instead I'm going with my grandmother's pocketwatch & chain that my grandfather handpicked for me when she died (each of the grandkids got something of hers, handpicked by my grandfather). It's worth much more to me in sentimental value.

[CathyCA]

I've been living out of 5 suitcases since March 31. Last month I got 7 wardrobe boxes from my movers. So, I really don't have any prized material possessions to grab if my mom's house were to burn down.

I'd grab my purse on the way out of the house. Along with my i.d., credit cards and a few dollars, my car keys, Blackberry and camera are in there. Over the past several months, I've learned that those things are all I really need.

[DukePA]

I would grab a painting my son did. It's 12 X 12 inches, painted on a wooden board. The painting is 4 gold, brown and beige tadpole looking space creatures floating in a circle on a very dark brown background. He ground his own pigments and used Northern Renaissance techniques. I can't do the painting justice with words, but it make me think Manet meets Dali meets Josh. Very, very cool.

[sue71]

I would grab a painting my son did. It's 12 X 12 inches, painted on a wooden board. The painting is 4 gold, brown and beige tadpole looking space creatures floating in a circle on a very dark brown background. He ground his own pigments and used Northern Renaissance techniques. I can't do the painting justice with words, but it make me think Manet meets Dali meets Josh. Very, very cool.

CB&B is your son?!?!? :eek::eek::eek:

[DukieInKansas]

CB&B is your son?!?!? :eek::eek::eek:

Is this rumor-mongering and worthy of an infraction?

[sue71]

Is this rumor-mongering and worthy of an infraction?

Only if it's on the PPB or EKB. ;)

[DukieInKansas]

Only if it's on the PPB or EKB. ;)

It just gets so confusing!

Back on topic - It really is hard to pick just one. If I had time to get some others, I would add the Nativity scene my mother made, my 8" cake pans, and the piano picture - my Dad, his sister, parents and a grandfather gathered around the piano.

[DukePA]

CB&B is your son?!?!? :eek::eek::eek:

No. (I'm dying laughing!) CB&B is my DBR beach bum buddie. If I were his mom, I would have been an approximately 10 year old mother. I will happily adopt him if he wishes :D

There just happens to be many artists in my family, so CB&B definitely fits right in with us weirdos!

[CameronBornAndBred]

No. (I'm dying laughing!) CB&B is my DBR beach bum buddie. If I were his mom, I would have been an approximately 10 year old mother. I will happily adopt him if he wishes :D

There just happens to be many artists in my family, so CB&B definitely fits right in with us weirdos!
Thanks Mom! :p I think I better keep you as the adopted sister though. Her brother does some incredible work too.

[dukemomLA]

I live in Socal -- land of fires, floods, mudslides, earthquakes, etc. If I can assume from the original post that my family and dogs and cats are corralled and safe, and that (perhaps erroneously) that all important papers (birth certificates, death certicates, insurance papers, house deeds, etc.) are safely in the cars, then...

I'd grab some of my favorite art (Calder, Dali, Max, Masson) ...and of course, our 2001 signed basketball. And if time, some family photos/slides/videos.

But nothing, NOTHING, really matters if all family and animals are safe and sound.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I'd grab some of my favorite art (Calder, Dali, Max, Masson) ...and of course, our 2001 signed basketball. And if time, some family photos/slides/videos.
Ahhh, you're cheating. You can only save one item.

[Lord Ash]

^ See avatar. Either that, or my wedding ring, which has been passed down through my fathers family for 120 years.