If You Could Save 3 Things, What Would They Be?

I like to think of myself as an online dating pioneer. The first time I created a profile on an online dating site was in 1997. Let’s just say my flirting game back in the late 90’s was about as effective as it is today: ineffective. Plus, it didn’t help there were no blogs or websites back then with “useful tips” on how to navigate the new dating frontier successfully. Had those resources been available, I might’ve been able to research my way out of social awkwardness. In any case, I did have a few conversation starters capable of getting some dialog going during those uncomfortable and experimental times. They came in the form of silly open-ended questions like: “If your home was burning down and you could only save 3 things, what 3 things would you choose?”

Or

“When you refill the toilet paper holder, does the toilet paper dispense over the top or from the bottom of the roll?” (Obviously, anyone who said under the roll was clearly a serial killer)

Regarding The Burning Home Question: Pondered Answers vs Real Answers

In the late 1990’s, I thought I knew precisely what I’d save if my home were burning to the ground. My answers were always the same:

1. Pets
2. Desktop computer
3. Family photo albums

The list made perfect and logical sense to me. Of course I’d save my pets (or loved ones had any lived with me)! Pets have always been members of my family, so loved ones would furever be at the top of the list.

As far as the desktop computer goes, that’s where I stored all my writing projects. Therefore, saving the computer was like saving my artistic creations.

As for the family photo albums, they contained original photographs of great-great and great-great-great grandparents. Since I’d been the chosen one to protect these priceless and irreplaceable images, I took the job very seriously. In addition, I also had albums containing things like my baby pictures and family vacations. Back then (as in prior to 1999), everything was captured with film cameras. Therefore, the photos in the albums from my childhood were the only images in existence.

That being said, when the home destroying event known as Shit’s Creek happened in 2022, what I actually saved would end up being both predictable and puzzling.

If I Could Save 3 Things From Shit’s Creek?

On September 17^th, 2022, I slipped into a zombie brain state as my 450 square foot condo became the victim of a sewage backup, aka Shit’s Creek. While in zombie mode, I packed 3 items in my car. After the 3 items were in my car, I felt ready to drive off and leave Shit’s Creek in my rearview mirror. The 3 items I packed were:

1. My cats
2. My laptop
3. 3 ceramic camels used as Christmas décor

Yep. No need to pack clean underwear, family photo albums or important legal documents. Clearly, 2 cats, 1 laptop and 3 ceramic Christmas camels were the only things I needed to begin putting my life back together.

To be fair, I’d just inherited the camels from my mom. They were a holiday decoration I adored as a child. Prior to the sewage backup, I’d given the camels new coats of paint and glammed them up with some Swarovski crystals. So maybe my list of the three things I’d save in a burning home would be something more like:

1. The ones I love (my cats)
2. My legacy (writing projects on my laptop)
3. Latest passion project (upcycled Christmas camels)

In any case, when I reflect on this day and remember those camels sitting in the back seat of my Honda CRV, I chuckle to myself. I suppose we never know until we know.

If you could save 3 things from a burning home, what would they be? Leave your answers in the comment section below!

*Note: Since I don’t have children to pass family photos down to, I gave the really old photos to cousins who kept the bloodline going.