dce / September 7, 2004 12:21 AM

A few years ago, I had to exit my apartment via fire escape. The hallway was filled with smoke and though the fire department seemed to have everything under control, there was an outside chance that the whole building would go.

Standing on the street with my neighbors, I ran through what I stood to lose and if there was something I couldn't live without. I wasn't able to think of anything. Though I'm as materialistic and shallow as the next man, I don't own anything that I'd describe as a "prized possession".

All that said, the item I care about more than any other would be a working Philco radio, circa 1930. It was given to me by my parents when I graduated from college.

jennifer / September 7, 2004 8:56 AM

My cats, most def. Anything other than that I could replace.

Archie / September 7, 2004 8:58 AM

My health...defnitely my health. Suprisingly I haven't had any major illness in like forever. I hope that I never lose that kind of luck!

mike / September 7, 2004 9:23 AM

It feels strange to call my dog a possession, but he would be it. Miles - 1/2 border collie 1/2 huskey. One damn good dog!

Other than that, my drum set my parents bought me when I was 11 years old.

Archie - you better be knocking on wood or something. Be carefull.

Pete / September 7, 2004 9:33 AM

Maddie, who will be four next month.

Anthony Ina / September 7, 2004 9:36 AM

NO iPod comment yet!

Unbelievable!

Audrey / September 7, 2004 9:38 AM

I find the way the question of the day is being interpreted by others to be interesting. I'm going to be a little less dramatic with my answer (of course I would rush my pet out of my burning home, but she's not my most prized possession).

My most prized possession is my grandfather's Yashica twin lens reflex camera. Not just because I love photography, but because I have very few personal items from my grandparents or generations before.

Other prized possessions include my collection of movie ticket stubs dating back to the 80s; my collection of matchbooks from restaurants and bars I've been to; and a pair of killer t-strap stilletos.

Michael / September 7, 2004 9:39 AM

If I had a dog, that would be my most prized possession, although I would consider him or her more of a family member than an actual "possession". That being said, the only prized possession I really have that cannot be replaced is a Remington No. 10 typewriter (circa 1918), that I am currently having restored.

dogstarz / September 7, 2004 9:49 AM

Since I was separated from many of my more prized possessions when I was manic, I would like to save my sanity.

caroline / September 7, 2004 9:53 AM

A desk my father refinished from the 1700s and a sampler made by my 7 greats back.

Alex / September 7, 2004 10:36 AM

I would say my son, but he is a human being, not a possession. So, I think I will say my paintings --they are irreplaceable.

Brenda / September 7, 2004 11:33 AM

I'm pretty attached to my gadgets, but I'd have to say the possessions I prize most are things other people have made for me (as opposed to things I've made myself, which I can probably make again). The gadgets can always be resurrected courtesy of renter's insurance.

My most prized possession: a recently-acquired birthday collage. Beautiful, unique and irreplaceable.

steven / September 7, 2004 11:39 AM

well my wife is the one i cannot live without, but if we're talking materialistically, then it would be the photos i have yet to backup onto my cds.....maybe i should get started. one can always buy another camera.

emily / September 7, 2004 12:11 PM

I would say my husband, but as much as I may like to act like it, he is not my possession. Then I would say my cats, but I may belong to them instead of vice versa. Then I might say my BH&G cookbook, but I could buy a new one if I lost it. That said, my most prized possession would probably be the 1930's art deco compactum that my mother gave us a wedding present.

Kevin / September 7, 2004 12:55 PM

My Fender Toronado guitar.

Andrew / September 7, 2004 2:10 PM

I'd say my journal and my tapes of my grandfather telling stories of his life.

j3s / September 7, 2004 3:19 PM

I've had a recurring nightmare that my house was burning down and I ran back inside to get the notebooks that I've filled over the last two decades.

That said, my notebooks don't feel like a "possession," so I'll go with another answer. A glass mushroom that a friend blew for me ten years ago, glued into a container that has since become home to many sacred items: beads, rocks, broken jewelry, small tokens of memory. It's always the last thing I pack when I move.

christian / September 7, 2004 4:25 PM

I have many possessions that are dear to me, most are worthless little things. I think the two of my most prized possessions would have to be my Royal portable typewriter (hell, my whole collection of typewriters) and my DJ-5c postal jeep.

And the many artworks of my grandfather.

Kris / September 7, 2004 4:29 PM

A well-used, barely holding-together 1937 edition of the complete works of Shakespeare. It's been passed down from friend to friend and was given to me by my uncle when I started college. I'm the fifth person to own it.

shechemist / September 7, 2004 4:37 PM

my mom's photo books and the letters I have from her.

Cinnamon / September 7, 2004 6:17 PM

I know I could live without everything I own, but there are so many things I'd feel like I should grab that I'd never make it out in time.

Ron / September 7, 2004 6:26 PM

25 photos by Joe 40,000 Murphy

george / September 7, 2004 10:55 PM

Man, Gaper's readers are a pretty non-materialistic bunch. 'dogs, children, wives...'

As sad as this may sound, I've placed a huge amounth of significance on one small place recently. My portable 250gb hard drive holds almost all my personal stuff; all my music, my photos, any drivel I might have written and all my work.

Those things that I collected or created would be a real shame to lose. Almost everything else I can buy or replace (including my growing range of white sneakers.)

Man I better back this sucker up.

Chris / September 8, 2004 7:28 AM

Most Prized, my memories, then the fact that when I come home to Chicago after serving my country, I have a home and parents, and it's in Chicago. Living in Chicago has to be the most materialistic prized posession, not everyone can say that.