Do you really, really need one more?
I recently, happily became a Friend of Medium, which comes with a limited edition tote bag. I’ve actually been a Medium friend for several years — it’s a great platform with interesting writers and readers — but now I’m a Friend, capital F. That is to say, I increased my membership fee.
It’s not a ton of money in the grand scheme of things. I like the fact that now I can send stories, via Friend Links, to non-member friends who have long grumbled from behind the impenetrable paywall, and Medium writer friends will benefit from my attention to their stories.
But I asked them to hold the tote bag.
Not that I don’t love tote bags!! Cloth bags, canvas bags, reusable paper bags. Grocery bags, destination wedding swag bags.
But I can’t throw them away. I have, by rough estimate, 572,364 of them. I think there is a law somehwere prohibiting the disposal of a reusable bag — even for people who don’t live in California.
Here’s the inescapable truth: your life is in your tote bag collection.
This may be why, other than fear of criminal indictment, you can’t throw them away.
Speaking of criminals. In a very long history of parking my car in sketchy areas of San Francisco, only one time did thieves break in. I know enough never to leave ANYthing in a parked car. But a canvas bag containing a few of my favorite canvas bags, just so as never to be without a bag? Who’d have thought. Sure enough, some evildoer smashed my back window and snatched my bag of bags. Hopefully they are still in circulation . . . somewhere.
When toting stuff around on miscellaneous errands my mind often drifts toward existential questions. Foremost among these is the speculation that today’s endless catastrophies often feel like the End Times.
But somehow, if the planet implodes or whatever weary planets do, I have a sense that our tote bags will survive — relics to be pondered over when some new civilization looks back on us eons hence.
Maybe I’d better get the Medium Friend Tote just in case.
I recently started using bags from my ever increasing collection gather items for donation to the local thrift store. The tote becomes an extra donation for them.
That’s brilliant. ❤️👏❤️
Tote bags are so comforting and friendly. There’s always room for more of them!
My closet shelf is questioning that room for more business. But friendly, definitely 😊
A lovely collection. The SF public library adds to my collection each summer as I’m rewarded for meeting my summer reading goal. I’m reminded that not all of us have such a collection so I share my surplus with the unhoused. I’m sure my favorite charity appreciates the advertisement.
Yay you for reaching reading goal! And anything spreading the word about SFPL, my favorite library in the world, gets my vote.Thanks for dropping by!