Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Stuff Give Away Dilemma

I have a dilemma about a bag that I've had for 4+ years.

It is a very nice bag, given as a gift for joining the staff at Davison High School in Davison, MI. I worked there 2003-2004. I used it to carry my school stuff for a whole year. It is a nice blue color. Has a nice strap. But I don't want it anymore and I don't know what to do with it.

There are two problems with the bag that have prevented me from using it since leaving Davison and from getting rid of it before now.

1st, the bag is embroidered with Davison High School and a lovely red cardinal. I felt awkward starting a new teaching job in Oakland, back in 2004, with my nice bag from my previous job for which I was mourning. Crying as I carried my bag home from the first few awful months at my new school, thinking about what life would have been like if I had stayed at the old school, the constant reminder with that little cardinal.

2nd, the bag is also embroidered with my full maiden name. This would be confusing to students. "Who's bag are you using?" "Who is Robin Levere?" I don't think they knew my first name that year and they certainly did not know my maiden name. They still don't know my middle name and this fact has frustrated several students for over a year now. They keep guessing Penelope. Why Penelope?

So, I have a bag with some identifying information on it that I don't use, don't plan on using in the future, and I want to get rid of it but feel weird doing it.

Here are some options I have been thinking of...

1. Cut out all of the embroidery, then reconsider the worth of the bag, and make final decision about giving it away.
2. Just keep the bag forever and ever and ever (or shipping it to a parent's house for storage).
3. Send it back to DHS and hope they can reuse it for a new teacher next fall. Hopefully with a first name of Robin or a last name of Levere.
4. Keep the embroidery the way it is and just give it to Salvation Army and then wait to see if anything happens. (a long lost friend discovers it and recognizing the name decides to search for me?)

Other ideas?

1 comment:

Laurie said...

I am a sentimental, keepsake person. I would put it in a "nostalgia" box - you know, the kind with old high school yearbooks, college memorabilia, etc. If it's not sentimental for you anymore, the idea of taking out the embroidery is a pretty good one!