What Would You Grab?

I heard an interview with a man who had to make some quick decisions about evacuating as the fire alarms went off.

The truly tragic thing about this massive event is that there  wasn’t time for people to plan their escape. 

The fire was just on top of them…

…like instantly.

The man who was being interviewed spoke of his own cowardice as his wife and kids were looking to him for answers.

He didn’t have any.

He explained that he didn’t know if it was safer to go East or West or North or South.

If he chose wrong, he could take his family to their deaths.

That’s a pretty horrible position to be in.

He told his kids to grab all that they couldn’t handle leaving behind.

What the hell would that be?

Only minutes to decide.

Phones?

Computers?

Books?

I have a box filled with memories. I haven’t opened it in years, but it has cards, letters, newspaper articles from when I was a kid. 

I haven’t opened it, but every time I came across something I wanted to hold onto, I put it in that box.

Can’t imagine losing it.

My sports autographs?

Of course, in a life or death situation none of that would matter all that much as long as we all got out…

…including Ollie & Miller.

There have been a whole bunch of actors who’ve lost their homes.

There’s a faction of society that is enjoying that, saying that they’re rich and they’ll get it all back and then some.

I don’t think so.

There is so much that money can’t replace…

…whether you’re rich or poor…

…some losses are universal to all.

The man being interviewed was able to get his family to safety.

They lost their homes.

He also lost his security of feeling that he was a Dad who was in charge and that he had all the answers.

“Turns out I was helpless,” he said.

Helpless.

That’s a pretty accurate assessment.