My laptop. It stores home videos, old priceless pictures and newer pictures that I have scanned and saved, my new hobby on Etsy and mode of wordly communication. What a great question and situation to ponder.

love the sleigh bells

This really gets you thinking about what is important to you in life.

This really gets you thinking about what is important in life......memeories!

Since my family and pets are safe, I'll have to think on this a little while. I enjoyed reading everyone's stories! :)

Now I'm gonna have to join Flickr. Fun!

I love this idea. Really good way to sift through what we want versus what we cherish or need.

Ah, Michelle, I so get the feather pillow! My grandma kept all the feathers from her butcherings and staying at her house meant having a feather pillow! Thanks for that memory. I would have to say that I would grab my plastic storage bin, full of my children's photographs. You can't replace them. Second, all of my quilts. :)

I need to think about it. Intresting question! The Family Portrait is beautiful, really worth keeping!

I have a lot of music cassettes.....

Great pictures!

this one is very dear to my heart, having had our fire less than a year ago. Of course other than the family and my machines the only important things I found that I had were my special memory items like the teeny weenie teddy bear my dad gave to me, he sits above my computer now. Thank you for sharing your precious items:)

My Picasso...if I had one!

I'm torn between our Passports or my iPad. :-)

interesting. This actually happened to us in real life as our house and it's contents were taken in Katrina. When it was all said and done as sad as we were about loosing all of our precious stuff I came to realize none of it really mattered. What really mattered was each other and our memories (which no storm or fire can ever take)

Having had a house fire several years ago, its just another reminder of just how precious these items can be! Thanks for sharing! ;)

it would have to be teddy.

My external hard drive - it has every hard drive stored in it from all of my computers since I was 17 including pictures, songs, etc.

There is a number of things here that I could go for. I'd like to say my laptop, since it has become one of the best resources for finding what I need when inspiration strikes at 3am, and won't let me go back to sleep until i find out if the items that existed in my creativity even exist. My set of 3 jewlery making tools that I've had for over 20 years. I'd be lost without them. My bead bag of the moment, which could contain any number of projects I am delving into at that moment. But when I think about it long and hard, there's only one thing I need. To simply make sure my young son and I make it out alive. As long as we have each other, there's nothing that can never be regained. I can get a new laptop, more tools, and beads. life can never be replaced. So, sappy as it may seem, as long as I have my son in my arms, even if we are wrapped in nothing more than a blanket, everything else is moot.

Wow, interesting article and thought provoking.

my sweet, big galoot of a pitbull, dinkypoo.

I'd probably grab the nearest bag or blanket and haul my laptop, ipod and all my antique books out to safety...after my family and pets, of course.

My child.

My guinea pigs...and my boyfriend maybe ;)

Pets, photos, laptop. When I was 8 our house had a fire and I lost all the things in my room upstairs. But my Steiff Easter Bunny was on the couch. I STILL have him. :-)

It's hard to think what I would grab after my kids, important documents, and external hard drive. My camera? My pictures? My violin? I think that would be it--my violin.

Ooo, I love this idea. At first thought I was like 'hmm, pictures maybe', but those would take too long to gather. A few seconds later, while perusing the article - 'my brass and abalone earrings! My (deceased) mom's favorites and my favorites too - plus I was wearing them when I gave birth! *tear* 'Better go take a picture - - -

interesting article!

I would definitely take the painting my Dad did of my Beautiful Daughters!! :)

What an amazing idea!

I have so much attachment to my objects (virtually all thrift vintage and handmade, of course) that I have sadly realized I may have to go down with ship.

Besides the kids, I'll probably grab my purse and my laptop :-)

I would choose C.C. - He's a stuffed sea otter I got when I was very little (and I still sleep with him ... I'm 22 ...) I would really be heartbroken if he was lost.

Love your article! The pillows are very nice.

Very tough to decide...after hubby and chidren...there's my great grand-father's ring and his drawings, my great aunts art, my art, my photos... But, as loopy said, things are things. Memories and people...that's what's important :)

my cat!

Hmmm. I think i would have to go with my family pics and first, since I can't replace those and my kids are only kids once. If there's time I would go back for my jeweler's torch and my jeweler's flex shaft. Can't make jewelry without them.

I would save my journals.

my down sleeping bag, no contest

My fur babies will always come first!! But if there's time left......photos of my Grams (Grandmother):)

this is in my top 3 fears! i think i would grab any photos i could and my dad's tallis bag.

I'd love to lie and say some precious photos, or my stuffed toy (identity secret), or something really cool and picturesque. But it would be my laptop. Got manuscripts on there. That's all there is to it.

after losing just about everything precious to us in katrina- dear freiends, family heirlooms,photographs,art, even just good old favorite clothes, as long as loved ones were safe I'd grab a vintage cookbook and a bottle of whisky and we'd drive off.

my teddy bear. I got him from an uncle at the tender age of 3. My daughter now sleeps with him along with an army of little plushies and he's one of her favorites:)

My first thought after my kids would be my great grandmothers keepsake quilt. My husband's house burnt down as a teenager. Though it can be very painful, (and I would hate to loose the quilt)I think you learn to move on and your focus can change from stuff to relationships.

Makes me want to cry a bit. We usually never know what is really important until it is gone. No one can take our memories but as humans we need to hold on to tangable things to remind us. Makes me really think about what I would take if I had a fire.

That is a hard one. Photos probably would be my first choice and then my external hard drive (recent photos), but it would depend on what I could get to. The important thing would be that everyone was safely outside (including the cats).

I often think about this all the time, since our house almost burned down about a year ago! Thank goodness for early morning neighbors!! It'd be me and my kitty for sure. Then maybe my new photo light, what can I say, I'm having a love affair with it right now! ;)

We can all tell what we'd grab first, but if it ever happened, I would panic and forget everything but the people and the pets!!!!!

my dog, gretchen, for obvious reasons. a plastic native american doll i have had since the arly sixties a stuffed elf from my grandmother, also early 60's and the passports.

this is so thought provoking...I have a hand carved book case that holds all of our family pictures. it would be hard...but i would lug that thing out to the curb...pictures and all.

It's got to be family home movies. My children's tiny voices on those tapes could never be replaced or duplicated and memories of my grandparents and parents are there to share with future generations. Yeah, I know, I should have them copied and stored somewhere else. I'll think about that tomorrow ...

Wow this is hard to imagine, I will have to really think about this, besides people and pets, photos and artwork would be at the top of the list! I enjoyed reading the stories!

the teddy bear that my grandparents gave me when I was six and my parents were having a divorce trial. it was as big as me then...

Been there done this on 12/31/2008! I was completely naked and sopping wet in the shower when my next door neighbor pounded on the exterior wall of my bathroom screaming, "Get out of the house, the house is on fire!" And, baby, you didn't have to tell me twice! I dove into my mooseprint nightie because it was there, put on my beat up shoes in case of rubble in my path, soaked a bath towel in water and wrapped it around my head (good for smoke), picked up my wallet (containing my ID which is essential for rebuilding my life), put on my coat and dropped the wallet in my pocket, picked up my folder containing important papers and secondary id that I keep on my bookshelf in an easy to find place in case of this, picked up my precious box of dead cat ash, grabbed my quilt in case my clothes caught on fire and also in case I would be outside in the cold for awhile, felt the door and felt the doorknob to check for heat AND MADE A RUN FOR IT. I feel that any possession can be replaced and the most valuable thing to save was me. I had already put my paperwork together after seeing the mess created by not taking this personal responsibility during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Everyone who worked with me after the fire was totally impressed by getting my paperwork proving my identity out of the building while it was still on fire.

Fortunately, I can say nothing in the house except my Mom, hubby and our 13 year old dog would be the most precious. Everything else is replaceable or a fantastic memory. Plus, my hobby shop is separate from the house so my tools, gadgets and all my "hobby" stuff would be safe already :) Thinking ahead I tell ya!

baisebeige - you have made me think of being a bit more organized with where those important papers are all kept! So glad that you escaped safely! Dawn

I'm sorry Loopyboopy but I TOTALLY disagree with you. I too had everything taken from me in a fire a month before my son was born, and the fire DID take memories. The stuff that's important, as this post demonstrates, serves to remind us of the memories we cherish. In losing those items, we lose our connection to the memories. I told my husband as he jumped out of our car and ran into our neighborhood ablaze to "GRAB THE ANIMALS AND THE PHOTOS." He also got our laptops and my wedding ring, which I was also glad to have. More of our story is at http://www.lifeafterthefire.com

This is a wonderful article! As I was reading other posts I'm thinking what is really important to me. If everyone was safe including the animals it would be photographs. I have photos that go back to my parents, parents, parents. A lot of generations which gets me to thinking. Maybe I should photograph all the photographs and put it on my computer and then I'd rescue my laptop since I already have thousands of photos for the business!

I love this idea for a series, and I can't wait to read more.

For me it would def have to be my cat. I would never leave him!!

"A man should so live that he can flee a burning city and be none the poorer." My Mum has that on her fridge and i think on this question quite a bit. In an ideal situation, after my people and pets, sewing machines...but in reality...would probably have to be satisfied with a deep breath and a toast marshmellow! :)

My sweet dog, Denny. Then, if the flames weren't TOO hot, my jewelry/jewelry supplies. Yep.

Very cool - really makes you think!

Thank you for sharing your precious items ! My son and hubby and ... Makes me really think about what I would take if I had a fire !

I have a memory box in my closet. I first started with a shoe box and then my husband grandly gifted me with the now updated cloth covered box. I have been putting ticket stubs, plane tickets, photos, gifts, school projects, retainers and more in for over twenty years. This box represents my life, and it would be what I would take.

not my art ...I could paint that again...not my computer...I can get a new one...Supplies...I could buy more.. Photos I have mostly online...but I would save old albums and my child's art...can't replace those That is of course only if my family and dog were safe..

My car, so i'd still have a way to get to work. My collection of anime cels, handily grabbable in a handled case and my two Chichiri cels that are framed beside my bed. Then if i could find the box, old family photographs. That is of course ONLY if i had managed to wrangle all three cats to safety, preferrably in the car with the cels and photos!

I use to sleepwalk a great deal, and once had a night where i actually lived this in my walking dream. I woke up to a packed backpack, my entire closet dumped into the middle of the room, and layers of clothes on that i was trying to keep. Shoes on the wrong feet, dog leash in hand. I was ready to take all that i could with me. In the dream there was time to think and the fire wasn't fast & raging, so i carefully grabbed many items that were pleasantly surprising to look through in the morning.

Not the photos I have in my shop - I have them digitally, with my sister, etc. Photo albums full of pics of my son, grandmother, brother, Dad, husband, my sis and me when we were children - they are all stored in a huge plastic bin under my bed. I'd grab that bin or die trying!

There are several things that are equally dear enough to me to think of saving them, but by the time I'd decided which one to save, my chance to save just the one might be gone. In the end being alive is the most precious thing to me.

Nothing. I didn't save anything. Really, it's whimsical and sweet, but when there's a house fire, your first thought is not on what you can save. You think about WHO you can save. I made sure that all my family was out and that included my pets and even the injured pigeon we were taking care of. I lost stuff I loved, stuff I couldn't afford to replace (and wasn't mine). So what. I have what's important, more than anything.

After I knew my son, husband and cats were safe...My laptop and pictures by my door. I have two ultrasound photos by my door from the two pregnancies I lost recently. I also have a picture I took and hand printed of my grandfather who passed away several years ago.

books4brooke I'm sorry Loopyboopy but I TOTALLY disagree with you. I too had everything taken from me in a fire a month before my son was born, and the fire DID take memories. The stuff that's important, as this post demonstrates, serves to remind us of the memories we cherish. In losing those items, we lose our connection to the memories. I told my husband as he jumped out of our car and ran into our neighborhood ablaze to "GRAB THE ANIMALS AND THE PHOTOS." He also got our laptops and my wedding ring, which I was also glad to have. More of our story is at http://www.lifeafterthefire.com _________ everyones reaction and resulting feelings will differ. I came to realize none of that stuff mattered and you found how much it mattered. I don't think either of us are wrong in feeling the way we do, just different:)

Very interesting question.. I'll have to think on this one...

And some of us don't have people or pets to save - just memories.

I think you always expect to save your pictures or computer, but I came home last summer and my parents house was on fire. The only thing I was concerned about was getting my parents out and the cats. The operator who took my phone call to 9-11 was yelling at me to get out and I kept telling her I had one more cat to get. (My parents have two.) So as important as that stuff was on my computer, it's nothing to having my parents and their cats safe.

That would be so difficult as you'd only have a split second to choose - obviously, family first, perhaps my photographs my artwork. But strangely enough if the family was safe then everything else materialistically could be replaced..... I don't even want to think about it really ....

my kids. my pets. our memory box (contains the precious baby items, the photos we cant stand to lose, and quilts my great grandmother made).. anything and everything else can be replaced and truly dont mean anything in the end.

I've been a volunteer fire fighter for half of my life, so I have to say-- Never Ever go back into a burning building for any reason!!! It can cost you your life, and possibly others theirs! That being said, and after years and years of thinking this very same thought, the only thing besides loved ones I would want to make sure was rescued from a burning building would be a small rattan box filled with all of the photos of me and my 6 brothers and sisters childhoods, and the most magical necklace I've ever seen, that was my great great grandmas. Everything else can be replaced, but visual reminders of a happy childhood would be hard to loose, as would an item that has been loved for generations and entrusted to me.

Wow something to think about. If there were time and everyone was safe and dressed...probably would grab pictures of family etc. and keys and ID. However, I love the fact that Juliet would grab these awesome cassettes tapes...some things are just priceless!

Oh, gosh- I've often pondered this! After all the loved ones are rescued, if I could toss out my journals spanning almost 20 years . . . that kind of stuff can't be replaced. That, followed by things my grandparents and parents made for me, including a toy stable and a quilt made of my baby's onesies . . . Things on a computer, I think can often be backed up, no? I usually save stuff that's valuable in other locations. I've had computers crash on me twice . . .

Oh...that would be such a hard choice for me...sigh... If I had to choose only one, it would have to be my cats (3). I couldn't stand the thought of them burning up in my house--they're my fur children. After that, I would probably grab one of the following that was closest to me (in no particular order) --my purse or at least my wallet --my camera bag (2 DSLRs + 5 lenses) --my scrapbooks --my knitting bag: it contains most of my needles and at least a couple of projects in progress. The way I see it, being able to pull out some knitting might help ease a bit of the anxiety created by basically losing everything else I own. --my external hard drive which contains the vast majority of my pics

2 years ago in November my husband and i had to flee from a fire that destroyed quite a few homes as well as our apartment complex. We had no idea that it would jump the freeway and come over to us. It did and we had only a few minutes to grab whatever we could. It was so unexpected and created mayhem in our area. We left everything behind except for family albums and a painting that our friend Jeramiah created for us as a wedding present. I will post a picture of the painting and a short story on the flickr page :) Mely

OMG, this is awful. Probably my computer. And then I'd probably DIE in the fire trying to save everything in my studio!!!! ;)

I have actually been in two houses that have caught on fire while I was in them, and had to evacuate due to wildfires twice too. So I do know what I would grab first without a doubt.

My dog (dead or alive). Though I've only had her for about 6 months, she helped me lift myself out of depression with her deep green eyes and her chocolate spotties. My little wiener doggie is my best non-human friend, and upon her death her ashes will be my most prized possession. I have never loved an animal as much as I love my Juno. My husband dreads her departure. Also, I love the sleigh bells. I hope that when I have kids I can make them feel like that. I teared up while reading it, it really hits home for me because I was the kid that gave "Mr. and Mrs. Claus" gifts on Christmas Eve.

An old shower curtain (think early 70s) with Leyendecker's The Flapper printed on it that my father personally stretched and mounted on a frame to hang in my childhood room. He's gone now, but I've still got his butterfly lady. :)

My pets and hubby. If I have them, my life is in order.

I'm delighted to read how well teddy bears and stuffed animals are faring in these escape plans, but frightened by reading how many of you have had the experience. I'm inspired by baisebeige to have that easy to grab file of important papers, but don't trust myself to do more than run for dear life. Maybe I'll invest in a fire-proof box for those papers. It's a great topic for thought.

My dad bought me a big teddy bear the day I was born. That bear slept with me for years (still does some nights). He's seen me through tears and loss and heartache. He's seen me through joy and love and blessings. He "dried" my tears when I loved and lost the very first time at the tender age of 12...and the many times since. ;) He's been there with me through the sleepless nights of rocking a crying baby. He's been a friend and plaything to all four of my children. He's missing an ear and has many, many "stitches", as my mother would call them as she tenderly sewed him up after I'd played with him too roughly. And, 10 years ago, he comforted me after the loss of my father...the man who, many years ago, had seen a big teddy bear in a store on the day his firstborn child was born...a daughter...and had to have it for her. I wonder...did he know what that silly bear would come to mean to me? Probably not. But wherever he is, he knows now. :)

I had 2 near experiences, so I had encounter this type of thinking before, and I constantly think about it and remind myself what to grab when/if it happens. Thankfully both incidents happened when I am outside, hence not near anything precious at home. The first time when I was in college, in a computer classroom. It was worse that it was located on the top-most floor of the building too. The fire alarm went off and had not smell any smoke, I managed to pack most of my important possessions and evacuated the classroom. One of the shops at the bottom of the building caught on fire, thankfully it was not serious. The second time when I was at work, in a tall building many many floors from the ground. I just grabbed my bag and ran down an endless flight of stairs out of the building. But if it happened to me at home, with one arm I would grab a large folder I have that contains a large amount of my original drawings and sketches that I had been keeping for 7-8 years. My passport/important documents are in the same stack too, so will grab those along. Then with my other arm I will grab my laptop, as it contains a lot of precious digital source files and photos.

My dog, Zephyr, photos & journals. In an apartment filled with things, I can fit what truly maters in my car. Thanks for the practical reminder too: id documents. dahlila

I've been through a fire- and the thing I missed most afterwards was a blanket that my mom had crocheted for me. Luckily, mom's still around, and yeah, she crocheted me another. In fact I'm looking at it draped across my couch this second. THANKS MOM :p

The thing I'd save would be the family album of photos. They've been in my family for a really long time and I always wonder what my great grandparents were like. I'd keep them for future generations of my family who wondered about their past too.

Depending on how quick I had to get out;first always would be my husband,then my bead collection,family photo albums from years past,any money ie wallet/purse and then run!

Family pic's, our doggie, wedding ring, heirlooms if we have time, hope we never have a fire winter is coming and furnaces can malfunction.

With everyone already out...a picture of my dad who died at few years back at my wedding, a 30 year-old picture of my husband's mom milking a cow on her little farm, and if I could grab them, the knitting needles I inherited from my fabulous friend Carlton who died a little under 3 years ago.

Loving all of your responses! Please take a moment to photograph your most cherished possession and submit your stories to the Saved From the Fire Flickr Pool: http://www.flickr.com/groups/savedfromthefire/

MY RABBIT. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailyohdeer/5030489057/

this is a great new series... can't wait to see more!

As long as the people and pets are safe that is all that matters to me. I lost a dear friend to a fire long long ago. p.s I use flickr as an online additional backup for my photos.

i love this idea...nice job!

i am a firefighter so first i would try to put out the flames!!!! but then i would save my baseball card collection-ive got some oldies that might get me some dinero to build a new jewelry supply collection!

All photo albums that were pre-digital.

after my kitty, Merlin...it would have to be pics of my father and grandfather since they have both passed and there can be no more.

I have a necklace - made with early 1900 crystals that was my grandmother's - I took this necklace and re-designed it with a swarovski crystal necklace that was my mothers - it is beautiful, so much history. Yes the crystal necklace.

Twenty-one years ago, almost to the day, we experienced a devastating earthquake. In our peaceful little seaside town, 11 lives were lost. Do I miss any of the "stuff" that was destroyed? Not really. Next time I'll do exactly what I did then, grab my loved ones and my pets and don't look back. You can always make new memories. Stuff is just stuff. You'll be fine without it. If you and your loved ones are safe, you'll have everything you need.

I have been in a house fire. My boyfriend & I jumped out of the window naked. I jumped back in and grabbed a robe and some jeans for him. So, basic clothing is important. Then we ran around to the back of the house. Our friend was still in the house and shouting that he couldn't see. My boyfriend jumped into the fully involved room and tried to save him. Our friend, who'd stood straight up on top of his bed, stuck his leg down the inside of the bed frame and wedged himself in with the mattress and box springs. Then he fainted from the super heated air & fumes. My boyfriend couldn't get him out of there. Even the firefighters later had difficulty. I regret the loss of his life and nothing else.

I would save my photo albums. It has all of my daughter's growing up pictures and pics of my mom, dad and husband who have now passed on.

How come no one is saving that handmade trinket I crafted and lovingly photographed?

bear white http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000074327642&ref=ts a gift of love, joy, and faithful smiles plus he brings so much joy to others and he's not a big fan of fire anyway. :) in a fire before i was born, my family lost a small 7foot handmade and sail-able pirate ship, built by my grandfather, all my uncles possessions (he was in alaska for his first summer there, later to move there as he became so free!), and a vintage carmen ghia. i would have liked to grow up with that ship or perhaps a sunny afternoon drive in that car, or seen my uncle's high school life in photos, but the family memories and stories make me feel like i have already and without the pull of possession.

My macbook

I really related to Juliet's story. I have a VHS tape of my dad that he made in the late 80s. It was during Christmas time and my parents had bought a "family" gift which happened to be the video camera. It was a big-honkin' thing that you had to carry on your shoulder because the technology was still super-sized. He set up the camera in front of the wood paneling above the fireplace in the living room and recorded himself talking to his estranged brother about how we spend Christmas. My dad introduced it like he was Bob Vila from "This Old House". He then set up the tripod around the house as he got the Christmas lights out of the rafters in the garage, untangled them and then stapled them to the house. Later in the film, I make an appearance as a 4-year-old scared of the little red light on the camera. I shriek and hide my face whenever my dad uncovers it with his finger. I still watch the video from time-to-time. My dad passed away from cancer in 2004 and, like Juliet, it's one of the few recordings of my father.

I would take New Baby, he is a blue stuffed bear that my boyfriend has had since he was little. A bear that his mother tried to get him to love as much as his much loved very ratty old bear. He never loved him as much as Old (or just Baby) and New Baby sat in a closet for years. Until he met me and that 24 year old bear found a foster mother who loves it to pieces. I knew that giving me that little piece of his childhood meant a lot to him and now it means everything to me.

wow, i've thought about this a lot in my life actually. when i was a kid and they would do fire safety education day at school, it always scared and stuck with me! there are a lot of precious things in my life, but the one thing i know i would grab first is a lock box my grandmother left me when she died. in it she left me a handwritten note telling me how much she loved me, and a gold locket that i would always wear around her house when we played dress-up when i was a kid. live=e

Love it, best blog post i've read in a long time. Keep it coming!

Let me think...Let me think....Wait, I wouldn't have time to think if there was a fire!

if my animals and people were safe...I would have a hard time choosing just one thing - would it be my grandmothers old gnarly walking stick which she wielded fearlessly if a dog menaced us on our long country walks, or the shoeboxes filled with the photographs that my father collected over a lifetime? Or the decoupaged picture of a mysterious young woman which hung on my grandmothers wall and enchanted me as a young girl? sigh...my indecision would surely be my demise.

just remembered ...many years ago as a nine year old child, I was awakened to unfamiliar noise and the vision of flames leaping towards my bedroom window. The old victorian house next door to ours, that had been transformed into a rooming house, was on fire! I was urgently commanded to get dressed immediately and come downstairs to exit our home with the rest of the family. Of course I chose to wear my very prized possession - my cowgirl outfit with the pearl buttons and fringe! :}

I am not really all that attached to my belongings, except maybe to the few family heirlooms I have. I will have to think on that some more... ....Ages ago, there was a town in Germany under siege. The attacking forces permitted women and children to leave safely and allowed the women to carry the thing the most treasured on their backs....The women were observed carrying their husbands!

I live in a place that is regularly threatened by forest fires, so I have had to pack and be ready to leave on a 15 minute notice. Try catching a cat to shove her in her carrier when the slurry bomber has been passing low enough to see the pilot's face. However, granting that a bag of clothes and the cat are safely in the car, I would save that which cannot be reproduced....my grandfather's Croix de Guerre from WWI, the family photo albums dating back to the 1860's, and my saddle, which my mother had made for me as I started my horse show career in 1965. She designed the toyon motif used in the carving herself...there is no other like it anywhere. I would not save my own work, or my tools...I can buy new tools with the insurance, and make it all again.

How wonderful! I'm going to love this new series :) I think it's awesome that just like sellers here on Etsy (me included) are encouraged to share their personal sotry, the admins too will let their lives shine for us to see.

For me it would be my antique jewelry, much of which was left to me by my grandmother and some of which was collected by my husband and I. Other than that my computer which has thousands and thousands of photographs!

I'd grab my laptop and throw the cat in the carrier, then I'd get a beer from the fridge so I could celebrate! Having my house go up in flames would be a lot easier than selling it.

really cool blog....but it's hard to pick just one thing.

Wow, great article!! Really gets you thinking about your own family and what is carried on and cherished :)

The 2 scrapbooks of my love and I, the box of pictures in the basement and the laptop. The top two because they aren't replaceable and the laptop because I know we'll have to do a lot of form submitting etc because of the fire.

Cats, dog, wedding photos disk, laptop with other photos, my keepsake box from when I was a kid (pics, a handmade wall hanging from Mom, etc). Wooden carved items (a tiny owl, a tiny elephant, etc) my husband's grandma made. She has since passed and they are precious to him. Important papers are in a firesafe (which I suggest for everyone), so in theory those could be gotten later.

I don't have any children so my dog is my child, it would defintly be her.

The firemen will love that I am remembering what they told me....MYSELF! If I am alone in a burning house and the people and animals are all safe, I would just leave! What kind of a home would it be if I didn't make it out? Nothing is more precious than LIFE!

Assuming my husband and son and I were out. I would let it all burn...there are so many things that I love, that choosing any one thing is just to hard.I would rather cry over everything instead of second guessing my choices.

true... hard to say

This is a brilliant idea! Can't wait to contribute soon!!!

love this new series. personal collections are so inspiring to me - it fills me up to hear people's stories...