The Contents of My Bag

I have now progressed to the third Aimee Leduc mystery, Murder in the Sentier. Below is one of my favorite passages thus far that will illustrate the pull these stories have for me. She has been out on a Vespa chasing crime when she has to enter an upscale venue. Aimee is always prepared:

"A block away, she entered a deserted courtyard, set down her backpack, and got to work. She stood on the cobbles, reapplying her Chanel-red lipstick in a window. Looking in a tall truck's side-view mirror, she reapplied mascara. She flattened her spiky hair with gel, then slid into the heels she carried, along with a new cryptography manual, calcium biscuits for Miles Davis [her dog, pronounced Meels Dahvees], and black silk underwear crushed at the bottom of her bag.

One never knew."

Her bag contents always include Chanel lipstick, ultrablack mascara, and high heels (unless she is wearing heels or boots, and then her red high-tops are there). And black silk underwear, because you just never know what might happen.

I wish I were that prepared for my life.

My bag contents:

Wallet and keys

Assorted lipsticks and glosses

Toothbrush and stuff for my braces

Hospital IDs

Chargers for BlackBerry & iPod

Earphones for iPod

Pens in various states of usability

BlackBerry & iPod

Given the size of the bag I carry, this seems pitiful. I certainly couldn't make myself ready for a hot club with my present contents, let alone chase bad guys and make the world a safer place.

But then, I don't have to!