Shoefi writes on the trauma of moving homes and asks – what would you save in a fire? Physical possessions, maybe… but what about all those special little things that have no meaning outside your memory and heart… somewhat like how you can return the samaan – the luggage – but what about the geeli mehendi ki khushboo, jhoot moot ke shikwe – the… baggage?
Catching up on news, I came across this on Washington Post – What Fire Couldn’t Destroy
But then the definition of home emerges. It isn’t just a house. It’s not the contents, or the walls, but the true feeling of that home — and all that it represents. Our homes are our foundations, retaining in their walls our memories and all the experiences that happen within them.
And also – What to Save From a Fire – Until they’re (material things) gone, it’s easy to tell yourself those things don’t matter. Then material things become a proxy for all the nonmaterial things you lost too. Peace of mind, say, or a sense of where you came from. Or an identity as someone who gives handouts and doesn’t take them.
Thank you for sharing the links…a good post, indeed. Because I know how devastated I would be without my home, not because the physical structure means so much but because it holds for me the nest where I am safe and warm, I have been so concerned for those in California.
“What Fire Couldn’t Destroy” was uplifting, and “What to Save From a Fire” gave me much to contemplate. I think I will get busy with my list and be sure the things I truly want to protect in an emergency are easily found in short notice. Nothing like being a little prepared – afterall, we do live in an earthquake zone!