In Their Bags. . .

Taking into account the desert island theory: Make no assumptions that one's readers know what you're talking about until you tell them, I shall explain this age-old magazine game.

I ask French women to tell me what's in their handbags. None of us cares that they have all the things every other woman in the world totes around, i.e.: cell phone, wallet, agenda/calendar, keys, the usual. I insisted when they spilled the contents we count only the uniquely personal items -- maybe little secrets --  that tell us more about each one and her life.

Here then is the second in the three-part series of "What's In Their Sacs":

Anne-Françoise:

1.) My husband's checkbook.

2.) Two pairs of reading glasses.

3.) Maybelline Superstay gloss #1o -- "It really does last. I can leave the house for a dinner party in Paris and when I come home it's still there. I don't really need to have it in my bag. It's a 16 hour wonder."

4.) My Carte de UMP (Ed. Note: The political party of President Nicolas Sarkozy.)

5.) Our visiting cards with all our addresses, etc.

6.) My IKEA family card.

7.) My platinum Air France card that allows me to enter the VIP waiting room and occasionally get an up-grade. (Ed. Note: Anne-Françoise lived for many years between Brazil and France, thus the miles.)

8.) A tiny pack of Kleenix.

9.) A picture of my husband and another of our six children all lined up.

10.) The book, "Je Ne Sais Pas Maigrir" by Dr. Pierre Dukan. (Ed. Note: Believe me, AF knows how to lose weight, maigrir.)

Mimi:

First of all I have to tell you my bag is a fouillis (a mess, completely disorganized).

1.) The bottom is covered with half-tickets from the cinema.

2.) I'm a member of a large chorus so I always carry around our latest repertoire to practice whenever I can.

3.) A tiny recorder to listen to our singing from the debut through the several weeks until we become more and more accomplished with the routine.

4.) Transparent lip gloss from Bourjois.

5.) A devis, quotation, from an enterprise to completely re-do my kitchen.

6.) Fresh mint for tea.

7.) A banana.

8.) A little box of pastel crayons.

9.) A small drawing pad. (Ed. Note: Mimi is an artist.)

10.) A book: "Les Croisades Vues Par Les Arabes" by Amin Maalouf.

Danielle:

1.) A program for up-coming expositions in and around Paris. I saw one the other day, "A La Table d'Eugenie," it was extraordinary. 

2.) Aptonia no-rinse hand cleanser.

3.) The keys to my son's apartment.

4.) A train schedule.

5.) A small sewing kit.

6.) Camera and an extra battery -- you never know.

7.) Avene blush.

8.) Le Cachou reglisse d'Orient

9.) Phytosun Gommes Aux Huiles Essentielles so I can breathe because I have a terrible cold.

10.) A red, feather-weight mohair scarf/shawl.