I don't even remember what year I
bought the purse but I remember where. It was at the Oshkosh,
Wisconsin St. Vincent de Paul store and I remember who I was with, my
friend Norma. It was a black leather purse, on sale for a dollar. It
was love at first sight.
Every purse had pockets but this purse
had all the pockets in the right places. My patent leather wallet
and checkbook fit in the deepest part of the purse. In a pinch (like
when I'm trying to carry on as much as I can when I take a flight),
my notebook computer can go in there. There was a little zippered
pocket in the back of that area for my business cards. In the next
pocket at the front there was a space for clip on pens and a small
sudoku book plus a zippered pocket for makeup.
A leather flap came over those areas.
The interior of that flap held a comb, a small brush and a pair of
glasses. The exterior held a small notebook and more pens, including
a Sharpie I could whip out should I need to sign a book or two.
At the back of the purse another
zippered place for my passport and other important travel papers.
The purse had a thick adjustable strap
that made the purse perfect to hang over my shoulder. With a quick
adjustment, it went over my head and crossed my chest, making it
nearly impossible for a purse snatcher to grab without taking me with
it.
There was only one flaw. On the strap
was a pouch for a cell phone. Unfortunately, the old cell phone I
had didn't fit there, so I either kept the phone in my pocket or
shoved it into one of the front pockets, that is until Gary bought
me a new cell phone this spring. Now everything fit fine but by then
the purse was wearing out. The fine leather was wearing thin, looking
gray in spots. The snap on the front flap no longer snapped. Pieces
of leather were poking out at weird angles.
That purse had been traveling with me
for years through one trip to China, two to Canada and countless
states here in the USA. I began looking for an identical replacement
at least two years ago. I found the purse by surfing the Internet
through places like E-bay and Craig's List, but it seemed silly to
replace a purse I bought for a dollar with one that would cost me at
least $30 plus shipping and handling. It was back to the thrift
shops and yard sales. I looked everywhere. The purse section was
the first place I hit. I went to every St. Vincent de Paul store I
could find from Mississippi to Michigan, from Washington State to
Colorado.(I haven't been east lately.) Goodwill and Salvation Army
stores had my attention, too.
In February in Jacksonville, Illinois,
I was heading to the purse section at a St. Vinnie's where I came
upon a woman with the exact same purse going through piles of purses.
She, too, was looking for a replacement. With more than me looking
for the perfect purse, what chance did I have?
But today, in Florence, Wisconsin,
EUREKA!! There was the perfect purse. It was three dollars, which
Gary said was way too much to replace a dollar purse, but I had to
have it. Not only was it the same purse, it was new. It had never
been used.
I am now changing over contents to my
brand new perfect purse. I may keep the old one though. We've been
through so much together and who knows? I may need a replacement a
decade from now. A few stitches, a new snap and some polish.....
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