Purse real estate is not to be squandered. Only prized items make the cut and purpose is paramount. I’m obsessed with efficiency and view waiting (for my Americano at Starbucks) as an opportunity to catch up on reading. I love options, so an array of highlighter tints is essential. In addition, I try to be prepared. Band-Aids for a scraped knee at the park, Wet-Ones for playground visits, light makeup and some mints for a touch-up here and there, and a bit of change for parking. (Not pictured: a bottle of Tums, iPhone and wallet.)

The contents of my purse symbolize the text of my daily life. Although unwritten for the most part, each item can be read into, and accurately represents fragments of my day-to-day activities and interests. They reveal that I’m a mother, coffee drinker and Kindergarten educator, and that my bag is a trusted companion in both work and family life.

My bag is filled with text technologies. I carry a pencil and highlighter wherever I go, so that I can interact with my readings, marking memorable passages and research worth referring to. I use a pencil, as it is growth mindset manifested in a simple tool, where a change in thinking or idea is only an erasure away. In terms of text, I can always be found with a professional reference book tucked into a side pocket and a list of similar reads 10+ deep in my Audible library. I utilize text technology in its more traditional written form, as well as auditorily (iPhone not pictured). Different, yet the same; although, a book is far easier to refer back to post-legere. My own literacies vary and are somewhat diverse. I engage with language and communication verbally, visually an auditorily. My facial expressions and gestures act as an extension of these literacies, as they have the power to outwardly communicate, as well as to be understood.

The narrative of my purse, provides a glimpse into the narrative of my being. While accurate today, the contents represent a single thread woven through the fabric (text) of my life. Two decades ago, a much smaller purse was needed, as my text was less complex and diversified.

Looking forward, the text of my own purse might not change significantly, as I’m invested in the traditional text technologies of the past; however, I suspect that my sons’ generation will require much smaller bags, even as they mature and lead complex lives themselves because the connection to traditional text is setting, and the value placed on hands-free, speech-driven technology continues to rise.