The Blue Notebook: Meant To Be

I bought a purse today.

For many women, this is not a momentous occasion. But the last time I bought a purse was 4 years ago. I just don't buy purses; I have enough already: formal black, casual black, and brown. No special matching purses - too much effort to switch everything from one purse to another just to match my outfit du jour.

I don't buy makeup either, except to replace something that ran out. I think I'm still on the same bottle of nail polish that I bought in college. The last time I bought jewelry, it was only because I had a gift card to a store I never visit; I never find anything I like at this particular store, but I needed to use the gift card. Jewelry was the only thing I found that I liked. (Wouldn't have bought it without the gift card, though.)

It's not because I'm not a "girly-girl" or because I'm not feminine; it's more a matter of laziness and other things I'd rather do than figure out which shade of eyeshadow looks best on me. I'd rather read a book or organize something (or better yet, use the money to buy an orange freeze from Steak N Shake). I'll buy (reasonably priced) shoes or clothes like any normal female - just not a LOT of them, and not at department stores.

But I was at the Mall of Georgia this week to meet some friends, and we went around to the department stores looking for a blouse for one of the friends. We wandered into the handbag section, and there it was: the handbag that called out my name. I picked it up. Tried it on over the shoulder. Peeked inside at the paper stuffing. Knew that the bag and I were MFEO.* Agonized over buying the bag, as its price was more than I was willing to spend. Nothing like a Dooney & Bourke bag, mind you - which I had never heard of until this trip to the mall; holy cow, who spends that much on a picking BAG?? - but still, the price was more than something you'd find at, say, Wal-Mart or Target, my usual shopping haunts.

Eventually, the fact that the bag was not miraculously on sale combined with the knowledge that John would Probably Kill Me if I bought this purse since I'd already taken advantage of the 88 cent sale at JC Penney, I Walked Away from the bag. I spent the rest of the day thinking about the bag. I told John, with mingled pride and regret, the story of The Bag. I thought about the bag the rest of the week.

On Friday, John said, Why don't you buy the bag.

Today, we bought the bag.

And I have to say, I love my new bag. It is not my usual shade of monochromatic. It is pretty and Shabby Chic-ish and matches almost everything I wear.

This episode reminded me of a small exhibit of handbags in the museum at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. On display were artists' ideas of what type of handbag Shakespeare's female characters would have owned, based on the character's personality and behavior. Viola, Hermia, Lady Macbeth, Ophelia, Hero, Juliet, and so on - each had a handbag on display. An interesting idea for an art exhibit. It was difficult to get a quality photo since they were under glass, but I did get a picture of Juliet's bag (since Romeo & Juliet was next on the lesson plans at the time).

I don't know if my bag "matches" me, but I do like it. A LOT. And the best part, a hidden perk I didn't discover until I got home: a paperback book can fit in there, along with my big wallet! I guess it really is my kind of bag.