What Would You Grab if Your Home Were on Fire?

I love my home. There's nowhere I'd rather be. I'm not alone, this is a common feeling. Home is a place of refuge, a place of peace where we restore our energy. A haven from the chaos.

I cry when I read about people who have lost their home. I cannot imagine anything worse than not having a home. Recently, I read about a family who lost their home to a fire. Thankfully, no one was injured, but they lost all of their possessions. Objects, in the scheme of things are not important. Reading about this fire prompted me to think, what would I grab if my home were on fire? My answer. My Vietnamese teapot. This is my favorite possession.

Unfortunately, I cannot say that I traveled to Vietnam to acquire this teapot. But, the day I bought it was miraculous. I was at a store called Ten Thousand Villages. This humble little teapot called my name and felt as wonderful as a new puppy in my hands. I marvelled at the simplicity, the delicate glaze, the artistry. I could not identify the origin, and looked at the bottom. Made in Vietnam.

I was stunned. I like to think I am a pottery buff, and I had never seen Vietnamese pottery before. Upon further research I discovered the U.S. trade embargo was not lifted until 1994! (Love you, Bill Clinton wish you could run again.) Wow. That means Vietnamese pottery has only been in our country for 13 years (of my lifetime).

I was at once saddened and grateful. Saddened to think of the artistry that is lost to war. And grateful that I experienced this artistry.

What is your favorite object? Send me an email and I'll be happy to post it here.