Pico Iyer

But in a deeper way, when I think back on it, I remember that as soon as a firetruck finally got to us and told me that it was safe to drive downtown, I went straight to a supermarket and I bought a toothbrush. And that toothbrush was literally the only thing I had in the world. And then I went to a friend's house to sleep on the floor.

But in a deeper way, when I think back on it, I remember that as soon as a firetruck finally got to us and told me that it was safe to drive downtown, I went straight to a supermarket and I bought a toothbrush. And that toothbrush was literally the only thing I had in the world. And then I went to a friend's house to sleep on the floor.

But before I went to sleep, I went to her computer because my job in those days was to be a columnist for Time magazine writing the back page essays. And I just had this eyewitness view on the worst fire in Californian history. So I wrote an account then and there, The Evening I Lost Everything.

But before I went to sleep, I went to her computer because my job in those days was to be a columnist for Time magazine writing the back page essays. And I just had this eyewitness view on the worst fire in Californian history. So I wrote an account then and there, The Evening I Lost Everything.

But before I went to sleep, I went to her computer because my job in those days was to be a columnist for Time magazine writing the back page essays. And I just had this eyewitness view on the worst fire in Californian history. So I wrote an account then and there, The Evening I Lost Everything.

And to speak specifically to your question, when the insurance company offered to replace my possessions, I realized I could live without 90% of the books and clothes and furniture that I'd accumulated. In some ways, I could live much closer to the life I'd always lived, an uncluttered life. And having lost all my notes, I realized now I'm going to have to write more.

And to speak specifically to your question, when the insurance company offered to replace my possessions, I realized I could live without 90% of the books and clothes and furniture that I'd accumulated. In some ways, I could live much closer to the life I'd always lived, an uncluttered life. And having lost all my notes, I realized now I'm going to have to write more.

And to speak specifically to your question, when the insurance company offered to replace my possessions, I realized I could live without 90% of the books and clothes and furniture that I'd accumulated. In some ways, I could live much closer to the life I'd always lived, an uncluttered life. And having lost all my notes, I realized now I'm going to have to write more.

for memory and emotion and imagination, which are really much deeper places. So as the months unfolded, for all the sorrow and shock of that loss, I realized that maybe it was opening certain doors as well. Did you ask for everything to be replaced? No, I replaced very, very little. And my mother and I were living in a temporary apartment for three and a half years.

for memory and emotion and imagination, which are really much deeper places. So as the months unfolded, for all the sorrow and shock of that loss, I realized that maybe it was opening certain doors as well. Did you ask for everything to be replaced? No, I replaced very, very little. And my mother and I were living in a temporary apartment for three and a half years.

for memory and emotion and imagination, which are really much deeper places. So as the months unfolded, for all the sorrow and shock of that loss, I realized that maybe it was opening certain doors as well. Did you ask for everything to be replaced? No, I replaced very, very little. And my mother and I were living in a temporary apartment for three and a half years.

So in any case, there wasn't much room. But I realized actually how little one needs to survive and that luxury is not really a matter of how much you have, but how much you don't need. And suddenly I awoke to the sense I didn't need a huge amount.

So in any case, there wasn't much room. But I realized actually how little one needs to survive and that luxury is not really a matter of how much you have, but how much you don't need. And suddenly I awoke to the sense I didn't need a huge amount.

So in any case, there wasn't much room. But I realized actually how little one needs to survive and that luxury is not really a matter of how much you have, but how much you don't need. And suddenly I awoke to the sense I didn't need a huge amount.

Yes. And also, I should say that my mother was 59 at the time and I was 33. And so the notion of starting again was not something she could entertain. It was as if her whole past had been wiped to the ground and there was very little to look forward to. And in my case, my past had been wiped to the ground and my future, as I'd anticipated it, had been eliminated.

Yes. And also, I should say that my mother was 59 at the time and I was 33. And so the notion of starting again was not something she could entertain. It was as if her whole past had been wiped to the ground and there was very little to look forward to. And in my case, my past had been wiped to the ground and my future, as I'd anticipated it, had been eliminated.

Yes. And also, I should say that my mother was 59 at the time and I was 33. And so the notion of starting again was not something she could entertain. It was as if her whole past had been wiped to the ground and there was very little to look forward to. And in my case, my past had been wiped to the ground and my future, as I'd anticipated it, had been eliminated.

But at 33, of course, it's much easier to start afresh. And so I was fortunate in my circumstances, and as you say, so many people are not, and my heart goes out to them.

But at 33, of course, it's much easier to start afresh. And so I was fortunate in my circumstances, and as you say, so many people are not, and my heart goes out to them.

But at 33, of course, it's much easier to start afresh. And so I was fortunate in my circumstances, and as you say, so many people are not, and my heart goes out to them.