The Things I Carried

Ten years ago, I was the epitome of a preteen girl. I carried a "skort" on my unshaped hips, brightly colored floral patterns on a day-to-day basis, an adjustable mood ring on my right pointer finger, a candy necklace around my neck, and sparkly “jellies” on my feet. My friends and I each carried several frayed friendship bracelets lined up our wrists. Those bracelets were important to us.

I carried a messenger-style purse strung diagonally across my body. I did not have many true necessities to carry at this age; however, it made a girl feel more important with the more things she carried. We did not think of the items we carried in terms of weight as I do today.

My purse was a randomized grab-bag. It was complete with over-powering hand sanitizer, spare hair ties and clips, a folding brush/mirror combination, movie ticket stubs, packs of Cotton Candy Bubblicious, fruity body spray, neon gel pens, and at least three different flavors of Lipsmackers lip gloss. All of these belongings were nestled in several notes folded into footballs like foam peanuts in a FedEx priority shipment. The only items deemed essential were a single house key attached to eight unnecessary key chains with photo-scopes from a recent Ocean City trip, and a small change purse to carry just enough spending money to suffice when the ice cream man made his rounds.

I carried knock-knock jokes, the latest Spice Girls song in my head, and temporary grudges against my brothers for continually crashing my sleepovers. I carried an abundance of innocence wrapped in curiosity. I carried a smile, memories, and immaturity. As summer wound down, I carried possibilities. I carried expectations for the new school year. I carried few responsibilities. I carried the fears and dreams of my future. I carried the world in my hands.



Fellow Drivethru Pickles members: Let's start commenting. I feel that we could all benefit from each other's opinions, ideas, and constructive criticism. :o)