Flash back to the end of August 2007. I arrived home from work — only a few weeks left before I would leave Avenet and start building a company that I had a piece of. The kids were just about to go to public school for the first time and Angela arrived home from shopping with their bags.
My heart sunk. Ang is wonderful at many things. Shopping for school bags in apparently not one of them. Bags are supposed to be my domain. I love a new bag to carry my stuff in. I know how to shop for them, I know how to look at the workmanship to see if it will hold up to the abuse. I also have a pretty good eye for knowing what will fit in the bag (and I’m pretty good at sniffing out a deal).
Owen came home with a big Darth Vader backpack. I had two thoughts: “total crap” and will be difficult to fit in the locker. It was both of those things but it held up better than I thought it would.
Field had a canvas messenger bag. Kids, especially elementary school kids shouldn’t have messenger bags — especially one like this. One area and a slot on the back for folder. Everything hung out of it. Messy.
The kids are vegetarian — like us which means they bring their lunches to school almost every day. Field’s would get clipped to the outside of his bag, making it even more difficult to carry.
This year it’s my turn and we’re starting a two-year bag rotation. Utility is the key. We’ll be checking REI, Altrec, and eBags to find the answer.
3mew.com 