Lightening the Load

A couple of years ago, I cleaned out my handbag collection. I had dozens. I was close to being the Imelda Marco of purses. I kept every purse I'd ever bought unless it wore out. I had the purse I'd bought to take on my honeymoon. It was a sleek shape and a good size, but more importantly, it was forest green. I figured I should hang onto it in case I ever needed a forest green purse again.

I had a large number of bags that were pretty and great colors, but too small for everyday use. But, I reasoned, that didn't mean I couldn't keep them for special occasions, when I didn't need to haul around all that I usually haul. I had beautiful shades of yellow and blue and peach and, well, you get the idea. So I kept them.

While contemplating just how much room they were occupying in my already crowded bedroom closet, I had to admit that I'd never used any of the purses I'd saved "just in case." Not once. So I gritted my teeth and filled a very big bag to give to Purple Heart. Occasionally I think about them, but I've never really missed them. Kind of like my tonsils.

Being the mom of three, I had to carry all kind of things with me to keep life moving smoothly. Or as close to smoothly as I could. After years of bottles and diapers, I kept paring down what I had with me. It had boiled down to a selection of items that I needed occasionally and didn't want to be without: small scissors, a small tape measure, a shoehorn, because once someone stepped on the back of the shoe on my prosthetic foot and I couldn't get the shoe back on. Stuff like that.

Now even that feels like too much.

I look with envy at friends who carry a wallet and their phone. That won't work for me. For one thing, I'm a klutz and carrying my phone is an invitation to drop it. And the purse needs to be attached to me in some way, otherwise I'll put it down and walk away without it.

Then I had an idea. I have a small, black purse from when I flew overseas alone and needed to "wear" the essentials to keep them safe. Why couldn't I carry that and leave a tote with the rarely needed items in the car? I'm going to give it a try and if it works, then I'll start looking for more interesting colors and patterns.

Imagine ... after three months of limiting my shopping to bananas and eggs, I'll have a reason to look for a fun accessory.

Shopping for fun. I think I remember how to do that.