April 14, 2010

The problem with a fire (like there is only one) is the emotional cost. You are forced to make a decision about every single item you own. For ten days my husband and I battled over what to keep and what to throw. He would keep everything and I would start completely fresh.

He is not a hoarder, but he understands the landscape. I once told him if he lived alone, he'd have so much stuff no one would be able to get through the front door. He replied in that arrogant way of men justifying their behavior. "That's not true. I'd leave a path."

Despite the fact we are not Mormon, we stored enough food in the kitchen, pantry and basement to allow us to live for at least a year should we survive the apocalypse.

The problem was inventory. How do you explain to an insurance adjuster why two people need that much stuff?

While this makes it sound like we were slogging through molasses by ourselves, let me say that was not the case. We had workers everyday doing the ugly jobs - cleaning out storage closets, bringing stuff up from the basement, filling dumpsters. All were of Mexican descent and not a one of them was fooled into thinking we were simpatico despite the 8 boxes of tortilla and taco shells, 4 cans of refried beans and 3 jars of mole sauce - in a house where tacos 4 times a year would be a rarity.