The Need to Carry Something

Is that we cannot be without anything or is there really a need to carry so many things with us during the day. People are always carrying things with them on the subway or on the way to work. Years ago I used to carry less and would never think of carrying a backpack every day. Today it is an essential part of living; I have to have a book with we besides resumes, lesson plans, an agenda, pens and at least one language or math text. This is part of my life as a multitasking person.

Women seem to be carrying bigger bags these days; there is an ongoing trend to carry water bottles especially when people are unsure of the quality of treated water supplies. Women also like to read on their way to work, as do men. With the advent of weekly and monthly planners, women have that to carry together with the water and perhaps one of those insulated cups that gets carried on the outside of so many shoulder bags. The weekly planners that break-up the calendar into a manageable schedules, is an essential, especially for the woman who have to juggle between a life at home, the office, the kids that have to be picked up at the sports centre and free time if there is any. The same can be said for the guys on the move and post Yuppie set that work perhaps more out their homes than they do at offices.

I feel too light if I don't carry anything with me. Whereas I used to stick a paperback in a coat pocket, I am always carrying a shoulder bag and on top of that may be toting a laptop too. There may be a moment of inspiration that I may jot down or enter on-line.

Do people read those books during company time? Perhaps they do and don't admit to it. Certainly there are people who sometimes carry more than they need, occasionally I could be carrying a book that I will never open during the day.

Let's not forget the cell phones and ipods that I have left for last because although they are essentials for the trendy set can just as well be carried in a jacket or shirt pocket. We had no idea how small things would get when transistor radios came out in the early sixties.