the dog and the painting,that's it.

I went to a really neat event this morning.  Early New Year's Eve morning there was a tornado that came through NWA and it hit a town called Cincinnatti, AR really bad.  A friend of mine knows a family that lost their home in that storm and they had a relief event for them.  Because I live in NWA where the Walmart home office resides, there are a bunch of vendors/suppliers in the area.  For those not familiar, the companies that make all the products you buy at the store have offices here in NWA so they can deal with Walmart and get their stuff on the shelves.  Several of the vendors donated samples of their product, everything from sheets and comforters to kitchen supplies, dvds and games, food, baby stuff, etc.  Then they had a sale and all the funds received are being given to this family.  It occurred to me, there is definitely a benefit to leaving in this area.  It's not like that have suppliers all over small town oklahoma or missouri.  I hope they were able to raise a good amount.  I arrive toward the end of the sale and there wasn't a lot left, so I'm hoping that's a good sign.  Thinking about someone losing all of their possessions makes you really appreciate not having to go through that yourself.  I pray I never hve to know what that's like.  I'm sure, living in such a great community and having such great co-workers, I would probably be helped out with the things I NEED, but what about all those things that you can't replace.  The photographs and souveniers.  That favorite t-shirt you've had since high school.  If you had to evacuate your home, knowing it probably wouldn't be there to return to, what's the one things you would grab and take with you.  My first thing would obviously be Sherlock, but after him, I'd grab a painting I own.  It is my favorite painting in the whole world and I'm the only one that owns one.  It is a Nathan McKinney original, which is why its so special to me, but its also a reminder of my home I grew up in.  We had this old farm house right next door to us.  I always use to comment how pretty it was and how it would make a good puzzle picture.  In highschool, Nathan painted it for school and told me I could have it when his assignment was done.  Every home I've lived in since I left home has had it hanging in it.  It's something I love and could never replace.  So the dog and that painting and I'll be okay.  Hopefully I'll never have to lose my home.  I hope the little I was able to give will be able to help bring the family that last their home last week at least a little comfort.