In one of my favorite book series from childhood, The Mysterious Benedict Society, one of the main characters, Kate Weatherall, carries around a red bucket on her hip wherever she goes. In said bucket are all the tools and accessories needed to carry out an adventure (e.g. rope, fishing twine, a spyglass, magnet, marbles, slingshot, and a Swiss army knife). She's the living embodiment of the phrase "be prepared." And you best believe it comes in handy throughout the series. I think we could all take a page from Kate's book and be a little more prepared. I can't tell you how many times I've gone out without an umbrella and sorely regretted my choices later on. Or how many times someone has asked for a lighter and I had none to cough up-- a missed opportunity to deepen a friendship.
But at the very least, I come prepared with memes. And that's the most important thing of all.
