As I was stuffing my laptop into my old leather bag, the one I've carried since law school, I realized that the contents are a pretty good representative of who I am. Now, whether this a positive or negative, I'm not so sure.
I like to be prepared for what life throws at me. So, I'm always the one with an overstuffed carry-ons and large suitcase at the airport. I was the one who carried the giant diaper bag and was never out of snacks or diapers or wipes, etc. I pack heavy.
I've been carrying my big, old, Eddie Bauer Leather bag a lot lately because it's my busy season when it comes to my legal editing work. So, it goes with me to tae kwon do classes and to the coffee shops and anywhere else that I might have a few minutes of sitting and waiting; time I could be reading or working on my computer.
What could I possibly need, you ask? Well, of course, there's the obvious, my laptop and cord. Then, there's the little zipper bag with my hot spot device (a necessity for me), ear buds, an external hard drive (I want to always have access to my photos – you never know what I might need for a post), and USB charging cord and plug.
There are two volumes of National Geographic, The Week, Gluten Free Living and a Minnesota Monthly stuffed in too…just in case I have a minute to read. There are two notepads and a variety of pens tucked in; a pack of gum, left from the last flight I took – to Chicago in December. Some used tissues are stuffed in a pocket – must not have had a trash handy - and the small package with remaining unused Kleenex are in another pocket – I'm never without Kleenex. I'm an allergy sufferer.
Two travel size Norwex enviro cloths made it in. You never know when you might need to wipe something off someone's hands, face, computer or tablet or phone screen, clothing, etc. They get a lot of use. I also found a small Pokémon toy from a McDonald's Happy Meal pushed down in an inside pocket, along with 2 applesauce pouches and a granola bar. A mom always has a few snacks stashed away for emergencies.
There's a small Gussy Sews pouch with business cards and my ever-present big, paper calendar. I NEED to write things down on a real calendar. No virtual calendar for me. Nope, I like my 8.5 x 11 notebook style calendar with chicken scratch and marked out items and red and blue and black ink and coffee stains and all.
And last, but not least my phone, keys, my big, overstuffed wallet, a couple of tubes of lipstick (I almost always blend colors and really hate to go without lipstick) and my powder compact.
Is it heavy? Yes. Is it all necessary? Yes.
Well, I did throw out the brochure for a tae kwon do tournament from March, the used Kleenex and the index card with travel info from our trip to Chicago in December. What's in your bag? Over and out…
Anna
Comments