Virtual Cathy Blog
Monday, May 01, 2006
Fire Drill!!
FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING MAY 1, 2006
Each weekly edition of GHOST STORIES is a short read beginning with a quote that inspires the ideas expressed in the column. Feel free to share our stories with friends and colleagues!
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"The world has to learn that the actual pleasure derived from material things is of rather low quality on the whole and less even in quantity than it looks to those who have not tried it."
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU!
Over the Easter weekend, a large wildfire began blazing within sight of our home. Before long, hundreds of firefighters, first responders, and other emergency personnel began arriving, and they bravely fought the flames throughout the weekend. At one point, it became apparent that we might need to evacuate.
We immediately began accumulating critical items: crates and food for our pets, computers, files, medications, our wedding album. When it appeared that we’d have a little more time to get our act together, we began searching our home for “secondary” articles that we might be able to squeeze into the vehicle.
Strangely enough, although our home is filled with beautiful and sentimental pieces, there were only one or two things we deemed important enough for consideration. Through our “evacuation goggles,” everything in our home was just that – a thing; a thing which had no value aside from what a receipt might substantiate on an insurance claim.
Quite frankly, it would be so easy to go on living without nearly everything we own. This is likely the case with many of us, although we don’t often, if ever, have to face such a possibility. After the danger had passed, we began to consider how much simpler our lives would be if we had a smaller home with fewer possessions. Although the trend has been to build larger houses, presumably because we need more room for our stuff, we’d all have a lot more time and money if the reverse were true.
We appreciate that so many unselfish men and women gave up their holidays with family to fight that fire. It’s astounding to think how they gave up what is truly so important – valuable time with friends and family – to protect our homes.
While the concept of “home” is paramount to our sense of security and well-being, the material things we keep in our home are not. If you have a chance to practice your own “fire drill,” you might be surprised to discover what you would take and what you could leave. In that respect, we all have more than we need.
posted by The Office Grapevine at 8:36 AM
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