by K L Humphreys

Created on: October 07, 2008

I stuck my hand in my pocket the other day and was amused at what I had collected.

One paper clip, two pennies, one dime, some tags from clothing, and last but not least, a few bits of string. I haven't thought of it till now but where does all that string come from?

Do I pick it from other pieces of clothing or are my pockets shedding? Will my pockets eventually become thread bear which is bald in reality?

I don't think I can wear shorts, pants or skirts without pockets, they are very helpful. My left pocket is for my cell phone, because I dislike hunting for it so I keep it handy.

I see women digging through huge purses and by the time they retrieve their phone it has stopped ringing. The practical ladies have them strapped to their belts or waist, and that seems to solve the problem of seeking out strange ring tones.

I think little boys have the most interesting pockets and I enjoy finding out what treasures they have hidden. You must be prepared if Billy pulls out a hand full of worms and dirt, after all he worked hard to dig them up and find a safe place to keep them for fishing or storing under the bed in an old shoe box.

So what's in your pocket on any given day? Probably a cell phone, most everyone has one or two. Some change is normal, and a paper clip or two. How about the napkin you used at lunchtime? I seem to collect them all during the day.

I work in a family owned consignment shop and most days I'm on my own. I use paper towels to dry my hands and I wash and dry them several times a day. I try to recycle them a few times before I throw them away, but I seem to find most of them stuck in my pocket.

I suppose most folks at the end of the day have bits and pieces of the work day, in their pockets. I don't think people take things on purpose, such as ink pens, rubber bands, and paper clips, but they just end up in our pockets.

I guess if you have a hole in your pocket you might never know what's in there, for it has fallen out and someone else has it in their pocket.

Next time you empty your pockets after work or play think about where this or that came from. It might be something you picked up after someone else dropped it, or your bits and pieces could be a trail of what you've done during day.

The last thought is when my husband and I travel with our passports we are both aware how important they are. So anytime either one of us pats our pocket or look inside a bag we are instantly concerned that one of us did not have this valuable information.

Perhaps the next time you check your pocket or you see a stranger patting theirs you can begin to imagine what are they looking for and what will or will not find.

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