The things I “lost” in the fire… were just “things”  I still had my memories… yet, this week, once again I was blessed with some of my “things” being returned to me.  These items were mostly clothing, replacable “things”, yet, each item brought forth a memory forgotten, and thus added to my “bank” of memories once again.  Some things were purchased by a dear sweet friend, lover and kind and caring man, so those brought back fond memories; some things were worn at certain events, my son’s wedding, a inprompt to trip to Mt St. Helens with dear friends, thus evoking more wonderful memories; still others were purchased when shopping with other dear friends, and therefore recalling a winter shopping trip to Portland that could not be replaced; and others were gifts from family… some hung in my closet, without a second thought, but yet now take on a life and love of their own… so more great memories…  But, as stated in the beginning, just “things”.  The most precious items returned to me were pictures.  Pictures of my children as little babies, as toddlers, as kids, as themselves.  And though those times live on in my memory, to have these tangible items to refer back to are precious and irreplaceable.   The fire is a (not-so) distant memory now, and replaced with these “things”.  I feel inordinately lucky and blessed.  And with my house taking shape every day, I feel like I am almost “home”.