"Imagine that a major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture."
If this catastrophe were to take place and I could only take three items I would first and foremost take my son's baby book. It is like a timeline of his first stages of life. It is very near and dear to my heart and keeping a baby book is something that my family has always done. The second thing I would take is a blanket that my grandmother made for me when I was a baby. This is another tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation in my family so it is especially important to me. The third item I would take would be my scrapbook. It contains my history and life from the past 20 years and it is not something that is replaceable. Memories and pictures are very special to me and almost everything else in life can be purchased again at some point. I would be heartbroken if I were told that I could only keep one item and I do not even know how to chose which one it would be. All are equally important to me. As a result of this exercise, I have realized that I hold family heirlooms and memories very dearly. I never considered myself a sentimental kind of person but now I am realizing just how sentimental I have become!
Brittany: Many have chosen a family blanket, and what a great symbol of being wrapped and protected by a family's love. I think of the blankets made by Native Americans, as well as the quilting groups that still use quilting bees as a way to build relationships while preparing something useful from scraps of the useless.
ReplyDeleteI love the items you picked!! How wonderful you have a scrapbook!! It is something I have always wanted to do but have never found the time. I think family heirlooms are so precious!!
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteI think that taking your special family blanket is a great choice because of the traditions in your family. I loved Terri's comment about being wrapped and protected by the family's love and her reference to the Native Americans.
Reading about all of your sentimental items really makes me wish that my family had traditions like yours. Thanks for sharing.
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post and the way blanket has been transfered from one generation to another.Blanket means protection and you have been protected by your family love. I love what Terri said that you are been wrapped by your family's love. Family is all we have after everything is gone.