What’s in YOUR handbag?

Despite Old Man Winter sticking around long after his welcome had worn off and, quite frankly, long enough to be considered a little rude, we are all starting to think about spring, aren’t we? For many in Canada, this means the hockey equipment and snow blower in the garage will be stored away, and the soccer and baseball equipment will take its place beside the lawnmower.

For hockey moms, this coming May long weekend also traditionally involves trading in the big, black winter purse to a more summery one. A friend of mine recently quipped that women carry everything they need in their handbag to start life over in a different province. As I begin my own seasonal conversion to my summer handbag, I think she might be right. I can’t believe what I’ve found in my purse. Maybe you can relate…

• The pro shop skate sharpening rewards card I’ve been hunting for all season,
• Leftover game sheet labels the coach asked me to ‘hang on to’ for him,
• Enough Band-Aids to effectively administer first aid to the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps,
• Four lip balms for those cold, dry hockey arenas,
• A brand new notebook intended to be used to remind me of all the stuff I forgot,
• The 25% coupon for Boston Pizza from the Cornwall Girls Hockey Association (that expired yesterday, of course),
• Two hotel room keys – apologies to Marriott and Travelodge,
• The receipt for the team juice boxes our treasurer was looking for five weeks ago,
• A program from the Brampton Canadettes Hockey Tournament,
• A shredded skate lace - from two seasons ago.
• The name bar I ripped off the game jersey in the dressing room after the final game of the season,
• Shakespeare’s Hamlet, paperback version,
• A Tim’s card, naturally,
• Six pens,
• Three old grocery shopping lists,
• Hockey tape… one wrap left on it,
• One uneaten protein bar,
• My Kobo, currently reading the same book I started in September, bookmarked to page one. I had big goals, y’know,
• A corkscrew (don’t judge),
• A mysterious phone number scribbled on a piece of paper (for whom or for where is entirely forgotten).

Yet, the one thing that purses should carry and that I never seem to find in mine? Money. Sigh.

My husband has suggested that 90% of the stuff I carry in my purse is unnecessary, but I disagree. At one point in time, each of these items involved an argument, a good laugh or a compromise. Such is the life of a hockey mom. Just wait until he slices his finger – again - checking the sharpening job the guy at the pro shop just did. Who’s he then going to come crying to for a Band-Aid, eh?

As you hockey moms begin your transition to spring hockey and spring purses, you too will find hidden gems in your purse. I hope you’ll share some of your ‘finds’ with me!

Three cheers for spring – and may your changeover perhaps yield some cash!