Weight Control

Not my weight, which zooms in and out of the red zone at the mere presence of chocolate anything, but of something more significant--my purse.

OK, men, unless you carry a man-bag you won't appreciate this. Gals, I know you will.

For years my main bag has been more of a tote. Its cavernous insides held my make-up, extra earrings, pens, tissues, hairbrush, spare change, my latest paperback, a notepad, a snack, a bottled drink, my wallet and checkbook. At any given time it may have baby or dog toys, a loaf of bread and a paint brush or two, a pair of needle nose pliers, various medications and an eyeglass repair kit. I'm sure I have left out things of importance.

You notice I did not say car keys or cell phone. That's because once they land in that black hole I will never see them again. No, it is much easier to hunt for them each day, trying to remember if the phone is on the charger or if I left the keys attached to the front door. Or in my jacket pocket. Or in my jeans. (A couple of times, not kidding here, I had tucked my phone inside my bra and forgot I had done that. It vibrated while I was looking for it. Hubby, one eyebrow raised, asked, "do you know your boobs are ringing?" Another time I was working and a gentleman--maybe not--asked if he could answer that for me.)

Anyway, getting off the track here. The luggage weighed a ton, or close to it. Nobody wanted to lift it. They'd rather die than get a stick of gum from it. Once my shoulder began to ache, I knew that the time for a mini-purse had come. 

The new one is little more than six inches each way, with two pockets, each of which might spread to two inches wide. There is a place for money and cards, but no wallet. The cell has its own home. Since my lifting has been restricted for the time to four pounds, the little job made sense.

So far, the only things that will fit in this baby are my make-up and meds, checkbook and pen, spare earrings, tissues, hairbrush, extra change, a paperback and notepad, a snack and an eyeglass repair kit. Oh, and occasionally a pair of needle nose pliers.