Fifteen minutes to leave their homes

Norbert Bilbeny

"Attention, attention! They must leave their home.They have fifteen minutes to collect their belongings ".This has heard thousands of families on the island of La Palma before the old summit taught their homes.But, in a quarter of an hour, what can be saved from a house?

Quince minutos para abandonar sus casas

In precipitation, it is not known where to start.You cannot save walls or furniture;Not even the land itself, which can be recovered after an earthquake.What can be rescued are some personal effects, and the fundamental thing: the memories associated with a home of so many years.In these circumstances, the pain of eviction, and the penalty that follows, are immense and irreparable.For some it is something so unbearable, so unvoyed, that they would prefer to die.Psychological disorders have not ceased to grow in the population of the island.Children are barely talking in schools.

Psychological disorders have not ceased to grow in the population of La Palma

What is it worth taking from a house that is already lost?Of course, company people and animals.But what comes next?Some will say that money and jewels.Others, essential documents.Footwear and shelter clothes will also be taken.And certain value objects, even personnel, such as photographs.Nor will we forget the mobile phone and computer.Nor from any book with which we grew up.Although there is time to collect all this in fifteen minutes?

Which leads us to question the importance of what we have and to ask ourselves, in short, for having itself.What is having?How much is it?When we leave this world, a shift truck will not follow the funeral car, no shopping cart, no briefcase with loved ones.All property will have to be left on Earth.But everything we really possess we always carry it with us and we are really ourselves."Omnia Mea Mecum Porto", we read in the letter 9 of Seneca to Lucilio.We associate, meanwhile, memories to a home, when this should be the world and memories, those jewels that are only stored in the heart.

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