It is strange to think about this bag.  This is my daily work bag that has been sitting in my office, untouched since I dropped it off on March 13, the last day of work before March Break 2020.  Other than taking out my sunglasses, cell phone, and my wallet, everything remained the same.  I did feel a bit like an archeologist exploring what my life had been like before I wore slippers to my office.

The location of my office changed, but my job did not.  An online teacher can set up her workspace in many different places, even on a picnic table in my back yard.  Yet, I remain in the home office in case there is a video call from staff or students.

The bag itself has a padded compartment for my school laptop as I am asked to commute between my office and the high school in Kimberley.  The black wallet acts more like a clutch within the purse.  That is what I carry when going out in the winter. In the summer, I convert even smaller to the brown pouch that holds a few cards and folded cash.

This bag is minimalist but holds some secrets of my past.  Six years ago, I was a teacher in downtown Toronto.  I was a full-fledged city gal.  You can see by the designer cell phone case, purse, and small brown pouch.  What I realize while looking at it is that they are worn out and definitely show their age. My prescription glasses are ancient and out of fashion, but my eyesight hasn’t changed, and I don’t see a reason to change.  Now that I live on a farm and commute to work, less is more when traveling, and the labels don’t matter anymore. I used to own a fancy car, now I drive an all-wheel-drive hybrid electric vehicle.  The all-wheel-drive is necessary because I live in the mountains

• Why is the money there? Well, I sell eggs to my colleagues for $5, and I always need an abundance of change as most people seem to have $20 increments.
• Hair elastic? I have a terrible habit of touching my hair when I am stressed, so I am continually tying it back.
• Dog poop bags? I have two large dogs, and those bags are stashed everywhere.
• Headphones with a microphone? I need to create privacy when students are working in my classroom, and another student calls on a video conference.
• My husband’s business cards. He’s such a talker when we are out, and I am always there to make sure he has extras to give.

The other supplies, well, people could guess that I was a teacher or a student, and I am both.  I have two notebooks because I have two different roles.  The novel is for my school’s book club.  It looks like we might be returning soon, so I guess I should get back to reading it.

It looks like I have given up my activities, but it is because I don’t need a bag when I am with my animals at home.  I used to be a traveler, I have visited over 42 countries, I know how to pack light.  Would someone look at the bag and think, boring.  Well, I am definitely more than meets the eye.

I am surprised to see how much of my bag relates to language and communication.  The computer is not in the photo, but there is a representation of digital literacy with my cell phone and headphones.  I use my notebooks daily to create a break from screen time.  The novel is part of a book club, but it is voluntary, and I enjoy reading educational text. The money and the keys to my rental units demonstrate interpersonal skills, entrepreneurship, along with financial literacy.

I have been focusing on the farm, work, MET, and rental properties.  I have lost a bit of my personal self.  The bag and contents look shabby.  I am happy with myself, but I am disappointed with the resulting image that is outwardly projected.

Fifteen years ago, I was in my undergrad.  Thinking back, I believe my bag would have been just a shabby, boring, and practical. The laptop, the cell phone would have still been there.  My iPod Nano is missing from the current bag as our music is now integrated into our phones.  I would have had notebooks, writing utensils, a bus pass, and a gym membership.  In 15 years from now, I hope I still have my journals, it will be interesting to see the technology change and if we will have more devices or less.

The archeologist would have a hard time determining the temporal period.  They would need to view the money and the technology to identify the era.  The shape and the size of the cell phone and the wired headphones are a little dated.  The paper money would be a giveaway.  After the pandemic where we have been encouraged to use tap on our cards, I believe paper money will be used even less frequently.  I think people will be more accustomed to carrying hand sanitizer than before.  Perhaps we are at the cusp of seeing changes in our daily bags, and it will be Pre-COVID and Post-COVID that separates the time and not the technologies that we carry.