Posted by on Jul 19, 2012 in Humor, Personal | 0 comments

I stumbled across the site, “The Burning House” this morning which has an interesting premise. You know those conversations you’d have with your friends once in a while, “What would you take right now if your house was on fire?”

Well, this site is a collection of personal entries and photos showing what people would take. Scanning down the pages I found it really interesting that cameras & smart phones were common choices. Photos & journals were common too but more so by older people.

You know, I’ve thought about this many times. Let’s assume family members’s safety are a given and they’re safe outside the house. And let’s assume I’m already fully clothed. Here’s my thoughts on what I’d grab if the house was burning down around me:

  • My custom Carvin bass. It’s just been my appendage for too many years. I have my secondary 80’s Kramer bass that actually has signatures from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on it and that carries sentimental value too. But when push comes to shove and I can carry only one of these suckers, I think I’d chose my Carvin. That leaves me with one hand completely carrying one item.
  • I think in less than a minute I’d stuff in my old stuffed monkey “Brownie” that I had since I was 4. He’s falling apart. I can’t have him disintegrated by a house fire after all he’s been through. That’s right suckas, a damn stuffed monkey. I think I can cram him down my pants. No jokes please this is serious.
  • Photos?  Hmm…not really. Anything worth keeping I already have digital backups offsite. If anything maybe I’d help my wife grab some of her old photos which I think may mean something to her. Shit…why am I wasting valuable fire time helping save my wife’s stuff? Think more greedy Raph!
  • Passports maybe?  That’s easy enough to grab and stuff in my pocket. But is this one a big deal?  I’m unlikely to make any big travel plans now that my whole house is burning down am I? Not like I’m going to have to prove my citizenship anytime soon. Ah WTF, just grab it and think later.
  • Wallet is certainly important. I’d never want to have to reapply for all my cards and licenses again. Damn that’s all the way on the other side of the house on the kitchen counter, do I have time?
  • Phone! That thing does everything for me nowdays. But wait, what good is it if I don’t grab a charger? God knows these things down run on a charge longer than a day. So now I gotta book it back to my rooms to grab a charger.
  • Camera?  Hmmm…that stuff is replaceable. But shit that one lens I have is expensive!  Ack! No time to open the camera back to grab it. I pull out my camera bag and it’s taking up my other hand. Fuck I have to run!

And that folks…is the story about how I didn’t get out fast enough and burn with my house. (image: 111emergency)