This is such a huge issue for me. I voraciously read how YOU cope. This is what I've come up with so far: Day to day, I've pared down. Over the summer I carried an absolutely gorgeous handmade leather bag, very small, extremely 'cool', but it was stolen out of my car, presumably for the cash that I stupidly left in my wallet. Of course I was sorry about the money, but I positively mourned that bag. Oh, and one day in a fit of mental health, I wrote my own personal "mission statement" for my life. That's gone too. I hope I can remember what I'm supposed to do. Anyway, recently I found a replacement for that bag, and it is even more "me" than the other one was. It's brown leather, shaped and sewn like an American Indian style of pouch, and it has a hand-tooled "window" of leather with a moon, and a leaf, and the leaf's roots extending deep into the earth. Sort of an overall depiction of how I feel...connected to the earth...awed by the moon...sort of a Pagan thing. In this wonderful bag I have room for a half-size wallet which is nearly empty, as it's new and it takes a while to accumulate that extra stuff that makes a wallet unique to its owner. I have my driver's license, a credit card, the shopper's club card from my grocery store, a few receipts, and some cash. The only other things I carry in my bag are my keys, my Casio electronic organizer (I apparently have a psychological aversion to writing things in a book; that has never worked for me. But, I'll punch in little messages to myself on this thing. Go figure.), my favorite Bobbie Brown lipstick (Warm Apricot), a good pen which I hope to god doesn't leak, and my pack of Freedent gum, flavor unknown (blue package). And that's it. However, I am planning a trip to EMS today to check out the bags you had a URL for a few days ago. I looked at the web site and was so impressed with them. I, like you, am always fascinated with bags and storage devices. I'm starting a new job in two weeks as pediatric community health nurse, and my office will be my car. I need to make of list of everything I might possibly need during the course of a day, and figure out a way to pack it. With winter coming, I thought a blanket, some cat litter for traction, a flashlight, and some quick energy food might be in order. A first aid kid sort of thing...Advil for headaches and cramps, bandaids for papercuts, tampons, etc.) Each day's lunch, to eat on the road, a snack, my water bottle, CD's for the car, a current bead project in case I need a half hour break for psychic repair, my copy of 365 Tao (you recommend the greatest books, BTW), a sweater, extra gloves, maybe socks, and an extra pair of shoes? The list is endless, and I'm spending entirely too much time obsessing about it. Obsessing, too, over little issues like...where do go to the bathroom???????????????????? Life is full of questions. ô¿ô Back Home | Index | Notification | Webcam | Dreams | Mood Swings | Tea Leaves Books | Music | Reflections | Guestbook | Postcards | Web Design Copyright © 1998 Willa G. Cline