jakorte's blog

I am used to the jokes by now. My purse has given many people the illusion that it would in fact carry the kitchen sink were it just a bit larger.

Now the funny part is that my everyday sling-it-over-the-shoulder pouch is only 6.5 x 2.5 x 3.5 inches. It’s been called the bottomless wonder, the incredible abyss, and the magic purse. I admit I do keep a lot in it, but then in my defense, I am a very experienced and efficient packer.

Someone recently asked me if I happened to have any Motrin on me. Of course, I did! So, I began the search. Before I got to the little reddish pills though, I first had to pull out:

Lip balm, a pen, scrap paper, breath mints, safety pin, mini sewing kit, bandages, antibiotic, nail clipper, nail file, Benadryl, cell phone, loose change, tissues, and a thumb tack that even I can’t tell you why I had.

What I didn’t pull out was: money, ATM/Credit cards, business cards, calendar cards for 2007 and 2008, fortune cookie slips of wisdom, receipts for purchases, bible scripture cards, and checks.

There ended up being quite a bit of hootin’ and hollerin’ over my over-abundant purse.

Now, a few days later, something in the air at work was bothering my eyes fiercely. I began roaming the halls, asking around for non-antihistamine over the counter drugs to combat the itchy, burning, eye watering reaction to whatever it was. First possible provider: Tammy.

Let me tell you about Tammy’s magic purse. Her purse is larger and she is way more over prepared than I could ever be, in a pretty minimal space, too. About halfway through her rummaging, I asked for a sticky note pad and pen so I could document the event.

Here’s what Tammy pulled out of her 12" x 9" x 3" purse:

5 packages of dental floss, 6 lip balms, 3 nail clippers, 2 date books (2007 & 2008), jack knife, lip mirror, 2 bottles of lotion, tissues, safety pin, pen, checkbook, 7 ATM deposit envelopes, a bank statement, coupons, makeup, extra ID badge holder, small notebook, an un-closable wallet stuffed with receipts not money, ear drops, an ipod, a cell phone, one thin dime, and alas, much to my disappointment, a completely empty pillbox.

True: Tammy’s purse is over twice the size of mine, but still, I bet I could pack a lot more into it than she ever could! I sense a challenge coming on….

jak

(PS. Thanks Tammy for letting me share. If anyone would like to join our simplifying support group for purse over-packers, let us know.)