My most precious finds have always been those of little to no cost. They’re the random one dollar vintage sweaters found on an unlikely street corner while innocently walking to breakfast. Or a borrowed worn in t shirt that feels better just because it’s someone else’s. Or those shoes you bought on sale for 10 dollars when everyone else paid $210 just to have them right then.
A best friend and I were having a conversation composed of theoretical questions pertaining to what we would lunge for first in case of emergency in the house. Our emergency of choice, a fire.
The first thing we both decided on, with little doubt, was pictures. Pictures, in essence, beyond the 19 cents it costs to print them, are indeed priceless. They are the foundation of memories lost and memories one hopes never to lose. They are the reminders of beautiful events or feelings expressed in a past instant. Photographs let you hold on, even when you know you should let go. And they also remind us of who we never want to let go of.
After going through which exact pictures we would throw in our bags in record timing due to the now expanding pseudo fire, I looked around and although my computer and camera, speakers and Italian memorabilia screamed at me to take them next, I realized that I didn’t care. I could carry on, leaving them behind without a second thought.
Books were my next thought alongside various newspaper and magazine clippings over the years. Music, of course, came into consideration when I saw my little external hard drive sitting there on my desk with tears rolling down its eyes to be in the bag for escape. And I will admit, if I have five extra seconds before I flee, I will grab it. It does hold the music, which is partly the definition of who I am.
Then I remembered it….My journal. Lord my journal. A gift. To me, free. Filled with my conscious. Filled with thoughts transcribed into old paper, binded together in a thick cover, decorated with dark browns and reds laced with gold, all so I could throw it in my bag on the way to the park or carry it away quickly in case of emergency.
This led me to think of notes. Notes left to me, notes I have yet to send, notes I have written down to write someone with intentions to mail or give, but couldn’t find the right time to do it.
These… are what I would bring in my emergency. These photographs, notes and journals would be all I need. And if, in fact, these pages were to burn, these photographs were to be lost and these notes were to be blown away, I’m sure I wouldn’t even remember what they all said or captured, because we move on each day to something new, and that’s the beauty of having nothing to lose.
With this imaginary reflection brought on other thoughts. I have nice shoes. I have nice jackets and nice dresses. I have a great car and a camera. I have an ipod and a computer to blog with. But as I looked around, all the things that meant more to me and the things that I found myself always going towards are the things that cost little to nothing at all. The cheapest things, the sale items, the street finds, and the hand-me-downs are always the best things. Gifts, handwritten cards, photographs capturing laughter, a moment of innocent happiness, things lost that I found, bargains and pass downs.
And now, as I am thankful there is no fire, that an emergency is not near, I can only be grateful to have these things, and be okay to lose them.
Scarf, $ 4
Slippers from Italy, 6 euros
Rings, my grandmother’s and mother’s, free
Scarf & bag, gifts from my beautiful Guatemalan roommate in Italy, free
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