John Mayer shared an emotional post about losing sentimental items amid the Los Angeles wildfires.
The musician, 47, posted an image of a folder via his Instagram on Thursday, January 9 and contemplated how painful losing sentimental items and keepsakes could be — as thousands who have lost their homes face that harsh reality.
“This is the most valuable thing I own. It’s a folder of photos of my father, spanning his life from being a baby, an educator, a husband and a father. It’s the only evidence of his life that will exist over time,” Mayer wrote in the post’s lengthy caption. “These are the ‘documents’ you read about people taking from their homes. When you hear someone say they’ve lost everything in a fire, this is much of that everything, if not all of it.”
Mayer continued, “Those who say they’ll be okay still have their folders and their albums. Those who are inconsolable have lost them. Just behind the immeasurable loss of life is the loss of the proof of life.”
The “Clarity” singer added that he was thinking of those who had suffered this type of “devastating” loss in the fires.
“I don’t practice prayer but tonight I will say one for everyone who no longer has these items. It’s not about the art and the collectibles. It’s the photos, the letters, the class rings, the eyeglasses and the things we keep to remind us that those we loved were here,” Mayer added. “May those who have lost so much find some semblance of hope and support from their family and friends. Stay safe, look out for yourself and for one another, and trust that humanity and all it entails, though sometimes hard to see, is alive and well. This is truly devastating.”
Following the post, the musician confirmed that he had not lost his home in Los Angeles.
“For clarity: I’m safe, extraordinarily lucky to still have my place in LA, but keeping my documents close by. ❤️” he wrote in the comments.
The post appeared to resonate with his followers, with many taking to his comments section to agree with Mayer’s sentiment.
Among them was Bob Saget’s widow Kelly Rizzo, who revealed that she had packed up sentimental items that once belonged to the Full House star when she was preparing to evacuate her home. (Saget died in January 2022 at age 65).
“This is so beautiful John. And so true. I can only imagine how precious everything in that folder is to you,” Rizzo, 45, wrote. “And when you said eyeglasses, it just broke me because those are some of the first things I packed up when preparing to evacuate. Bob’s glasses, a lot of his clothes and personal effects that I know are completely irreplaceable. Thanks for putting this into perspective, something you’re great at….explaining the hard to explain.”
An estimated 9000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in the fires, according to officials, reported The Guardian. Since Tuesday, the fires have ravaged parts of the exclusive Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills. Celebrities including Billy Crystal, Milo Ventimiglia and Paris Hilton are among those who lost their homes due to the fires.
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