What I Saved from the Tubbs Fire

Fleeing the Tubbs Fire in the early morning hours of October 9th, I only had a few minutes to grab what I thought was important. First came my computer, then a few clothes, and a messenger bag I have had since my freshman year of college. (BTW, CourierWare makes excellent messenger bags.) Finally, there was a little treasure box, something a family friend had given me when I graduated college in 2008.

Why did I grab this box? Inside the box, besides a collection of coins that I picked up from around the world, are bank checks. Not my checks, but bank checks from companies who hired me as a writer over the last 20 months. Every time I would receive one in the mail, I would deposit it using my phone, fold it in half, and put it in the box. These checks are my little victories in the freelance writing world. In the time since the fire, two more have arrived - new additions to the stack.

Wherever I end up in the following weeks and months, I will use this little box and the contents within to start a new collection of items meaningful to me and me alone. Yep. I'm happy for that.