A huge reason for my passion around fitness and health is my family. I want to be around and active for many years to come and this reminder was made more clear recently.
As we entered the weekend Mother Nature brought chaotic unpredictable weather with her. Black, green, wall clouds moving in opposite directions, followed by intense 40-60 mph winds. My wife, children and I watched from our lower level as the pea size hail pelted everything in sight outside. My daughter asked me, her voice shaking, “daddy what do you have in your special box?”
” Special box?” I asked.
“Daddy, everybody should have a special box that you can take with you in case everything is lost.”
A light went off in my head……what if some crazy act of nature or a fire were to destroy everything?
Now of course we want to think positive and not over react, but my daughter made a pretty valid point.
“Honey, I will make a Special Box. Everything is going to be fine.” I said, hopefully in a reassuring voice.
But, what would I want in my Special Box that money cannot replace?
Let’s go with my daughters parameters, a Special Box is the size of a shoe box.
My Special Box:
1)Many individual and group pictures of my family.
2)Drawings made in school from each of my three children.
3)A very old belt that my late grandfather gave me.
4)Cd of family movies, memories.
Sometimes my children remind me what life is all about and why I want to stay healthy.
What would you keep in your Special Box that you cannot replace with money?
53 users commented in " My Special Box "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbackthat is a good question! I would have to say pictures and videos as well.and my son’s baby books.
hopefully I will never need to use the special box!
———————————————-
@workout mommy, baby books definitely!
-Mark
Yes, pictures are irreplaceable, in my opinion. I would also want to include some items (small ones!) that have been passed down in our family for generations.
—————————-
@FatFighter, passing down items is a must!
-Mark
nada.
it’s all in my head (which is prolly not a great idea given that Im 39 and the memories are thisclose to disappearing
)
coming to visit the elderly aunts soon…Im gonna bust on into the Lifetime offices in a sports bra and shorts flexing for all Im worth (which is about 85 cents this morning…)
@MizFit, Go get em!
Both my kids have special boxes that get filled continually. I stained them myself. When they turn 18 they will get them. It is fun to watch things go in that will mean even more in time…
@Claudia, Excellent! I like that idea!
What a great idea. I’m going to have to give it some thought.
I need a bigger box. I would definitely put in pictures of my twin whom I never met, who passed at age 38. We never knew each other. I found out about him 5 months after his death. Now I have his guitar and walking stick and would never ever part with them so that is why I need a bigger box. Good question.
————————–
@Diana Young, Wow a twin! Great feedback!
-Mark
Hmmmmm….great idea. I would probably need a bigger box then a shoe box – would definitely stash my photos, momentos, stuff my dad brought back for me from his travels….hmmmm, will have to think more on this. Plus a big fat Bad Cat.
@Missicat, photos great and the cat also!
-Mark
Wow, good question! You’ve certainly given me something to think about – I would definitely include pictures, but there are so many other things…I think my teddy bear that was given to me when I was born would have to be included
@Jenn, that is great…can’t forget about teddy!
I hate to be boring, but definitely photos. The older I get, the more the old ones mean to me.
@Crabby McSlacker, Photos are never boring, great feedback!
This is one of those questions which is awesome for remembering what we truly value in life.
How many people say straight out “my chequebook, my degree certificate, my laptop”? Nobody I know. Work, money, power, achievement – the things society teaches us should be closest to our hearts – really, does it matter to anybody deep down? I’m not sure it does.
Nearly everybody picks irreplaceable items that remind them of their loved ones.
TA x
———————————
@tokaiangel, Very well stated. Thank you!
-Mark
I’m thinking..I have too many things to put in..my family photos, my friends photos, letters that I’ve been keeping for years, my favourite books, pictures drawn by my niece, craft works for children…long list…
Children always remind us how to live simple!
@Rosabel, So many wonderful things…I know. Yes, our children are good at grounding us.
6 years ago my mothers house was threatend by a HUGE forest fire. I was living with her at the time because my father had just passed away. We had one hour to evacuate the house. What did she pack? His entire closet. (thank goodness her house was saved, unlike many of the neighbors)
I think what you put in your box will depend on what is going on in your life at the moment.
Pictures are the obvious answer… but I would also include my Dad’s badge (he was law enforcement), my girls baby blankets and my family jewelry.
@Tigerlilly, Thank you for sharing your story!
What a good idea! I’d put a couple love letters in there from the boy, family and friend photos, and a four-leaf clover I picked with my grandfather when I was 7 and had laminated.
And now I’m getting emotional. Thanks, Mark. lol.
——————————————
!
@Jenn, Very nice
-Mark
Beautiful Mark, and you’re absolutely right. Thankfully places like Flickr and Picasa help us with redundancies on the prized photos we take now. The older ones definitely should go in the box.
If you don’t have in another place, you might also include copies of birth certificates, passports, marriage license, SS#’s and the like.
As always, thanks for the inspiration.
Cheryl
@Cheryl Smith, Excellent points, suggestions all around as always!
Thank you!
Woah- thats weird, because I remember when I was little I used to always think of what my own box would be filled with if I needed to make a quick get-away. Maybe its a kid thing?
Photos and my writing and letters from other people have always been top of the list for me. Pretty much everything else can be replaced, really.
————————————–
@Sagan, My children remind me…it must be the innocence? Thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
As a Hurricane Andrew kid, I am speaking first hand at the importance of a box! We lost everything in 1992, including pictures and sentimental things that can never be replaced, and really, those were the only things we missed. Everythig else is replaceable.
Here’s a suggestion, instead of pictures, but them on a flash memory or CD, that way you can still enjoy them today. And any papers and important docs you do put in, put them in a ziploc in case of water damage.
Great idea…thats one smart kid you have!! =)
@Shanna, Thank your for sharing your story and fantastic tips!
Funny you would ask that question because over the 4th of July weekend I did pack my special box, as did a lot of my friends, because there was a fire raging near our homes. I packed passports, my financial/insurance account information and some jewelry that held sentimental value. But as we left the house, I had most important things with me, my husband and my daughter.
—————————————–
@Big Girl, Wow! I hope everybody was ok? Great point our families safety is most important!
-Mark
I really like this idea.
Pictures, a dvd with some short family videos, a few school items the kids made, some coins from my parents, a box of notes from a special weekend spent with my wife.
Puts into perspective what really matters, doesn’t it?
————————————————————
@Lance, good stuff! Yes it does put it into perspective.
-Mark
photos, my grandmother’s ring, scrapbooks. wouldn’t fit in a box! But, what is really important: health and happiness.
@Rachel, Absolutely health and happiness are the important thing. Thanks for the feedback!
Isn’t it funny how both of our kids became focused on the apparent natural disaster stuff!
@noble pig, I was thinking the same thing as I was reading your blog….very funny!
Out of the mouths of babes…
I don’t have a family of my own so probably nothing. In an emergency, like a fire, I’d be focused on getting my behind out the door along with the cats. Alot of people that have been in these situations usually take the bare minimum: wallets, purses and legal documents.
I think the focus is on living & getting everyone to safety.
Not very nostalgic am I?
I have a post dedicated to you and laughing cow today btw
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog, Mark.
———————————————————
@Katschi, You and the cats should be priority! Thanks for your feedback!
-Mark
I love how kids can put things in perspective.
I would definitely put pictures in my special box. Can’t replace pictures!
———————————-
@Susan, Pictures are a must!
-Mark
I think about this every summer in bushfife season. My box hardly changes over the years, just gets more photos.
————————————
@Gabrille, you could probably teach many of us a few things or two…..thank you for the feedback!
-Mark
Definitely pictures!
———————–
@Mama Zen, Lots and lots of pictures!
-Mark
CDs with photos, drawings by my children, a ring of my grandmother’s.
Your daughter’s idea was beautiful.
————————————
@Jennifer H, Nice choices, my daughter is always thinking just like her momma!
-Mark
1)A recording of my children laughing
2) A picture of all my children laughing
3) A recording of my wife laughing
4) A picture of my wife smiling
—————————————-
@chris, Very nice!
-Mark
to start, I would keep at least 2 photos each of my loved ones. A small pine cone I found on the day of my father’s funeral. A pair of earrings given by my mother. I should say, I will keep. I am going to purchase a fire proof box tomorrow. Some things I cannot bear to lose. Your daughter’s ideal is priceless. Thanks for sharing.
———————————————-
@DaDivaStreet, Some very nice memories.
-Mark
What a smart little girl! We actually have a fireproof box and in it are the kid’s birth certificates, social security cards and their footprints from the hospital. There are also special 1st drawings and other things you wouldn’t expect in a box like that but they are irreplaceable to me, as their mom. I’d add photos of my parents too, now that they are both gone.
@Dayngr, A fireproof box is a fantastic idea! Thanks for your feedback!
I would keep pictures of my loved ones, for sure. One thing I have heard several times after a disaster is about the lost of those personal effects and not having any pictures.
I would also keep something personal from each person I love. I don’t have kids, so not drawings.. but something that means a lot to me and reminds me of them.
@Kate, Wonderful selection! Thanks for your comments!
What a great post, Mark! And I’ve noticed a theme in the comment section – the things all of us would save are basically the same…we would all save tangible reminders of love…
@the Bag Lady, Very well stated!
Wow — great idea. My SIL and her family lost their home and everything in it, except for two forks (how weird, right?) in Hurricane Katrina. They lost their baby books, wedding album, all of that. So, like the others, I would put photos. I have a few in our fire-proof safe and now, after this post, I’m going to add more!
————————————
@Felice, Oh geesh! Sometimes we don’t know until it is to late. Thanks for sharing!
-Mark
In my special box would be:
- cds of my favorite pictures, my writing, music that holds special memories
- my journals
PS Thank you for your kind comments on my latest chapter.
@Suzanne, Thanks for your feedback!
What a great idea!
I mean, we have the stuff in the safe, but I think I need to get my family going on our Special Boxes too!
Thanks for the concept (or more accurately, thanks to you for relating it and your daughter for coming up with it!)
@GeekMommy, She is a smart, thoughtful girl. Thank you for your comments!
I have a special box- it is bigger than a shoe box, but still manageable. I have our important documents, external hard drive with pictures, a couple scrapbooks and home movies. Every 6 months or so I pull it out and go through it a little and always feel grateful to have it, disaster or no.
@Hannah, Great idea! It is nice to remind ourselves once in a while. Thanks for sharing!
I’m terribly unsentimental. I would grab all of our international documents. I don’t want to deal with consulates (ours AND the brasilian one) unless I absolutely have to. But I might slip in a drawing or two, or one of my daughter’s baby dresses.
————————————
@Mamasphere, Drawings are good!
-Mark
My grandmother’s cookbook, the Dumbo I’ve had since I was a little girl, and my kids’ lovies.
Oh and my laptop.
So I could blog about it, of course.
———————————————-
@McMommy, Great stuff! Thanks for the comments!
Leave A Reply