By Sarah Duggan
Kendra at Catholic All Year did a purse dump linkup recently. I love these things because it's fun to see what other people carry around. Also: material culture! You're welcome, historians of the future. Here's what some ladies of the Twenty-Teens were schlepping around.
This is the random brand, fake leather big bag that I take to work every day. I've mentioned before that I am always on the lookout for functionality in a bag.
I found her on Columbus Day at a TJ Maxx under the Queensboro Bridge. The cross-body strap and multiple interior pockets were key selling points. She's looking a little worse for wear these days - note broken clasps replaced by classy carabiner clips. Also, my black wool winter coat appears to be wearing off on her. A spring/summer upgrade may be in my future.
First, the commuter survival essentials I can't do without.
From top left I have:
Book to read, currently Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. The NYPL has the most efficient inter-branch loan systems I've ever seen. All 7 of my holds arrived at once last week so I'm trying to keep up with due dates.
Wallet, because even with a bag full of stuff sometimes you have to run to Duane Reade or a food truck.
Umbrella, because the day you forget it will be the day it pours.
Hand sanitizer, because sometimes you have to touch subway poles.
NJTransit monthly pass and MetroCard holder so I can get to my office. The Vera Bradley pouch was a thank-you gift from a former intern after I served as a job reference. The plastic holder is a vintage image of Grand Central, because Penn is too hideous to put on merchandise.
Headphones, because sometimes trains are noisy and you need to tune out the world with a podcast.
Staff ID from the Museum's fundraising gala in October. Because I never clean out my purse?
Business card holder - the image is a detail of the Roy Lichtenstein mural at the 42nd Street/Times Square subway station.
Next is all the cosmetic/medical stuff that keeps me from making emergency Duane Reade purchases.
From top left:
Cough drops
Heat patches for when my back acts up
Tea bags for when I need a hot drink
Gum for fresh breath
Bandaids for shoe blisters and for papercuts while rolling 900 Gala poster favors
Hand lotion for dry winter weather
Ibuprofen for headaches - I refill it from our big generic container at home
Hair ties for ponytail emergencies
Vincent Van Gogh lens cloth from the Carnegie Art Institute gift shop
Lip gloss - it's poppin'
Pens and mechanical pencil
Target generic Lactaid pills, because I am lactose intolerant but still like cheese
Tissue, because cold season
Spare pair of socks? Ok
Fingerless gloves, a random purchase from the street vendor outside my Brooklyn subway stop. Even street urchins like to keep warm while using their iPhones.
And finally here's the random paper stuff that I removed thanks to this exercise.
Left to right: outdated train schedule, playbill from seeing a Broadway show with my aunt and cousin, outdated museum children's calendar, notepad for weekly staff meetings.
Not pictured: keys, coffee travel mug, foldable nylon tote bag (it's currently holding 15 posters of Grand Central Terminal) and various lunch tupperware containers. My sweet husband makes me coffee every morning and packs me a lunch so I can get out the door bright and early to catch my train. And then I join the herds of commuters carrying at least one bag across the river and down the tracks.
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