Baggage

Before my children started to appear, I was like a breeze. My money and license lived in my jean's pocket so wherever life happened to bring me that day was great. My car survival kit included my smokes, bandanna, maybe change of clothes and of course vehicle documents.

Post children - The Age of Schlepping.

For years now I've had to carry a bag. I got away with a small bag intermittently, but am back to that great big bag that needs to carry all the accoutrements that seem necessary to get through the day. I guess I am no longer like a breeze, more like a tropical depression.

When children are small it is hard to go anywhere without them. Taking them with you means luggage.

• Diapers, The one time you don't take diapers because you're only going to be a minute is inevitably the one time they have explosive diarrhea in the 7-11.
• Wipes.
• Change of clothes, and this line item grows in the wintertime.
• Snacks. The one time you don't take cheerios is the time you are stuck in traffic for thirty minutes right before lunch.
• Bottles or juice boxes. Refer to Snacks
• Toys/Books. Refer to Snacks

The absolute musts for leaving the house. For EACH child. Of course, the longer you will be gone, the more of the above needs to be stuffed in. Mind you, also in the bag is your stuff - wallet, mail, keys, tampax, and early on, those breast pads for leakage, and back in my day, a checkbook.

You are now carrying a large ugly bag, but also a child. Seventy five percent of the time your reason for even leaving the house is to get something at the store, so on the way back you're hauling the baby (babies), bag, which in my case was easily half my size, and a gallon of milk, kitty litter, and beer.

Although those days are over for me now, I find my work demands a certain amount of schlepping, and I am once again in the market for a BAG. Recently on one of my trips to New Hampshire, I surveyed the load I was burdened with for my overnight stay: My handbag, my bag of snacks, my computer bag, and my overnight bag. A little rediculous. Must condense. Its hard to hold your cup of tea and four bags.

I decided I needed ONE bag for wallet, cigarettes/lighter, phone, camera/cable, pens/pencils, notepad. This bag I would use consistently, but in the event I had to go to a distant site, or bring work home, it would also need to fit my laptop, files and notebook.

So here I am, once again, searching for the bag that will fit my needs. A purse for normal schlepping, and tote for work schlepping. One bag.

I should devote a day. On this day I should find the bag. And a bathingsuit. And some new bras. And not quit until I have successfully accomplished my hellish mission. Do you think all this hauling will eventually change us in the evolutionary picture so that we are born with bags for our stuff? I don't think the ones under my eyes or arms are doing the trick...

Peace