What’s in Your Bag/Pockets?

I’m guessing you probably haven’t been asked this before. Who do you ever talk to and tell them what is in your bag? I think it is an oddball question, but a fun one. Ruth Buzzi, anyone? Queen Elizabeth?

Depending on the size of your bag, this could be very interesting. Do you use everything in your bag or is stuff just hanging out in there?

Of all the things I have ever wanted to check out on the internet, knowing what I should carry or not carry in my bag is something I haven’t needed to know. Still don’t. I’m fine with putting what I need in my bag without the help of anyone.

It’s all there though, even men’s pockets (see below). Even what little girls should have in their small purses.

Things women should carry

From http://Businessinsider.com, 14 Things Every Modern Woman Should Carry in Her Purse:

• Safety pins (check)

• Band-Aids

• Extra earring backs

• Blotting papers

• USB flash drive

• Cardholder

• Healthy snack

• Battery case or portable cellphone charger

• Tide To Go Stain Remover (check)

• Hand lotion

• Zippered pouches

• Hand sanitizer

• Breath freshener (check)

• Tissues (check)

Seems I’m not a modern woman. I have only four of these in my bag. Your bag or tote should not weigh more than a gallon of milk, or a bit over eight pounds.

Who decides this stuff, I mean really? My bag and contents weigh 1 1/2 pounds. I thought it would be a little more.

There is also a list in http://businessinsider.com, 9 Things You Should Never Keep in Your Purse. I’ll skip that list. I’ll just say that common sense will tell you what not to put in your bag.

My Bag

I LOVE my “satchel” as it’s called — now it’s called a “clutch.” Just checked. It comes in small or large with two strap options.

Doesn’t matter to me what it’s called — it’s mine and I enjoy it. I like small so I’m covered.

People want to know where I got it. They actually take pictures of it to show a cat lover the person knows, “Oh, she would love that.”

It was a splurge several years ago. Paul and I were walking through Inman Park Festival. I saw it. I must have it. I like wearing art.

I don’t switch out bags. If something happens to this one, I will order another one just like it. Jon Wye’s store is in Washington, D.C. http://Jonwye.com. Worth checking out. I see the price of my satchel has gone up.

Contents

The day I am starting to write this post is July 21 — so these are the items in my bag — always subject to change on different days.

• My wallet. When I got this satchel, and switched from the bag I was carrying, I lost some real estate. I bought a smaller wallet.

• A blue, soft eyeglass case. I rarely use it, but sometimes I need it.

• Handkerchief I got at an antiques store years ago. Seeing as how I’m a crier, this comes in handy.

• I went to the grocery today so I have the receipt.

• I also have the receipt for a takeout order from Mezza Luna Pasta and Seafood. The lady who helped me was Madeline D. She was quite nice.

• My hairbrush and mirror in one. It is compact shape. Since I have short hair, I rarely use it. I try not to look at myself in the mirror. You can’t look in the mirror while brushing — a tad inconvenient. Excellent space saver though.

• Tube of Starlit Pink lipstick. Starting to use that more. When we were all wearing masks, no need for lipstick.

• Tide To Go Stain Remover

• Two ballpoint pens

• The good piece of material that cleans your glasses better than anything else. I get mine at the eye store for free.

• Small silver pill box I’ve had forever that one of my sisters-in-law gave me for Christmas. Keep my stash of Excedrin here.

• A mini Swiss Army knife in cover

• Emery board

• A floss pic and the small “Go-Betweens” with tiny handle

• Listerine Cool Mint Pocketpaks

• Two Fresh Nap moist towelettes

• Safety pin

• Three Pepto-Bismol chewable tablets

• One mini Tootsie Roll wrapper

• One Kleenex

• Two toothpicks

Done. Every single thing in my bag.

So how do I follow this up? Was this too weird? TMI maybe? In years past, there would be no way I would do this.

Oh, the beauty of aging and not caring about what people think — well, maybe just a little.

I do care what my readership thinks. Thank you for reading.

No telling what some of us carry on our person. I keep some items in the car. I poked around a bit to find other things women may carry but aren’t assigned in a proper list:

• Water bottle
• Mini sewing kit
• Lint roller
• Sketch pad
• Chewing gum
• Eyeglasses/sunglasses
• Socks
• Books
• Mini flashlight
• Pepper spray
• Medicines

Men’s pockets

Yes, can you believe it? The internet will let men know what they should carry in their pockets. “6 Things All Smart Men Carry in Their Pockets,” from Coach Magazine UK.

• A Hair Taming Comb — whether for your head or your face. Recommended is short comb with wide and narrow bristles. I guess just any old comb won’t cut it.

• A Pocket-Saving Key Holder. Never heard of this but makes perfect sense for not making holes in your pockets. Nor will you sound like a school maintenance guy as you walk.

• A Smooth Rollerball Pen. Not just any old pen. It’s a sleek Kaweco, German made, art deco-style talking point of a pen. Slim as a cigarette, short as a comb, and fits in the palm of your hand.

• A Super-Slim Wallet. No useful info on this item. A wallet is a wallet.

• A Flu-Beating Handkerchief. No helpful info on this. There’s only so much you can say about a man’s handkerchief.

• A Breath Saving Mint. Chewing gum is a no-no. A tin of classic Altoids is small and mighty.

These can all be yours for a price. I was just checking in to see what the English gents carry around.

Someone on Quora.com answered in reply to What are some things men carry in their pockets:

“Older guys usually carry a wallet, car keys, and some spare change (coins). They might have a smartphone in one pocket. Personally, I also carry a comb, a pen, nail clippers, and a pair of reading glasses.”

This guy’s list sounds about right to me. I don’t know why he used the word “older.” I think all Paul carries is his flip phone, wallet, keys, small amount of change, and a pocket knife.

In addition, some men like to carry pocket pistols (real ones), lip balm, a lighter, a Swiss Army knife, pen, USB drive, a whistle.

A magnifying glass was mentioned. I used to have one that was the size of a credit card — perfect! I can’t find it anywhere.

Buddha Bag

Then there’s the bag of the laughing Buddha.

Here’s Hotei, a laughing Buddha. I got him a long time ago before I knew anything about Buddhism. I barely know anything now.

He’s in a half-crossed leg seated position. Almost two feet tall. Weighs 25 pounds.

I picked him up at one of those quirky shops on Chattahoochee Avenue. He is made of mango wood.

An interesting tidbit is he has about six holes bored underneath at the bottom. He hails from India so U.S. Customs checked him for drugs. I paid $50. He is one of my favorite pieces.

The laughing Buddha is considered a symbol of happiness, abundance, contentment and wellbeing. They are considered full of promise.

They have positive energy and good luck. There are six laughing Buddhas. I’m only telling you about mine.

If you notice in his right hand is a bag/sack. Definitely not filled with what we put in our bags and pockets.

His bag signifies the gathering of one’s suffering and misery. He puts them in his sack and gives one abundance and positivity. The bag also represents wealth and good fortune.

In the other hand he is holding beads. They represent meditation — if there’s one thing that’s not my bag, it’s meditation.

The beads are believed to bring affluence and prosperity — still waiting on that.

So just a little overview about this Buddha. I am not interested in his lore. I got him because I love his happy face.

I mention it here only because we’re discussing bags and I remembered he had one.

That’s a wrap … almost

Your personality is showing in the way you carry your bag. http://ecr.co.za. Check out what your body language is saying.

• Over the shoulder
• Over one shoulder with bag close to body
• Cross body with bag behind the body
• In the crook of the elbow
• Tucked under the arm
• The dangle

Just too much for me — a video shows you how to pick a bag suitable for your personality. Ha!

Thoughts and Comments are always welcome. Please don’t be shy. Would love to hear about your bag or pockets. Thank you!

Yvonne