I love this. My wife is the same way. She travels as if she were moving. I long ago gave up not embracing her need to prepare for the end times while travelling. When she comes to stay for a few weeks a year from our home in Idaho to our place in Southern California, she flies and I drive her car with our dog. Our travel manifest includes blankets, pillows and 3 suitcases of God knows what. Often times food, medical supplies, books, stationary and a heated throw. Last trip included a blender and her favorite iron skillet. I think the skillet was just a warning shot if I complained about the cargo. I never complain. I just love everything about her. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Walter!
But seriously, I always have a large purse too. Sure, men get by without purses, and my daughter won’t carry one, but those are the people always needing to borrow a pen, or tissues, or to stuff their keys in my purse, or something. Maybe not everyone needs to drag shit around but those of us that do seem to help everyone else out.
That is what I tell my husband, who often asks if he can put his phone, wallet, and keys in my purse for "safe keeping."
My bag shows that I operate in lifeguard mode, watching for needs to be met or noses that need a tissue or a throat lozenge to soothe a cough. I am the "Keeper of Things One Might Need," or never need. My own rarely use inhaler has a space where I can find it, most of the time. My cellphone sinks to the bottom where it hides under keys, notebooks and a hair brush, as well as receipts and old sticks of chewing gum, and maybe a few coins. It's my lot in life to collect things, just "because." I am who I am. Deal with it, world...
Love this, I have the same "quirk." The funniest part for me is when I find ten lip chaps in one bag, or *every* piece of jewelry I've been looking in another (when I used to smoke, I called this phenomenon lighter booms and busts). I swear there is a natural law that sorts my clutter this way 😂 Also, my favorite purse is my favorite because it holds a paperback so perfectly.
This was a great read, Amanda. No kidding, Keturah and I have had almost identical interactions to the one you describe with Walter. I love that woman dearly, but good heaven, I had no idea that by marrying her I’d signed myself up for a lifetime assignment as a professional porter!
We are traveling now with over FOURTEEN bags… to go see grandma 3 hours away… dutifully, I carry the bags.
It’s an endearing trait, I think. I tell myself it’s OK if you don’t bring it with you, because then you can buy locally sourced stuff at the destination! And of course a new bag to carry it all home 😁
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend. I’m thankful for your hilarious writing to kick it off!
Well... my sister is a Pisces Sun too and, besides never closing a door or putting a cap back on anything, she has an issue with packing, eliminating, and limiting stuff too. Astrologer that I am, I chalk it up to a radically "open" mindset in keeping with her oceanic personality profile. Feel free to try that on.
I love your writing. Thank you and Happy American Thanksgiving! ( PS. AWAY luggage is on sale right now...I splurged a while back and love my suitcase. You have to be okay with clamshell style though).
My grandmother referred to her purse as “the worldly goods.” I started carrying one in college when I was partying so hard that I needed a way to insure that my keys and wallet were always attached to my person, regardless of my fitness to use either. When I spent a semester and a summer in Budapest, I negotiated a giant duffel my husband calls “the hockey bag” and a garment bag I loaded so full that the clips broke through airports, train stations and tram platforms as if I needed to represent the entirety of American capitalism to the benighted peoples of Eastern Europe, just crawling out from under the Iron Curtain in 1997.
My husband and I were just having a conversation last night about my tendency to pack like I'm moving the whole house, and how we need to figure out a better solution for our travels!! I don't carry a purse anymore now that I'm married, but my backpack is always heavier than my husband's, or if we're traveling by car I still have more bags than him. And it's true -- I just have too many projects, things for emergencies, etc. And then it explodes around us. Maybe I'll make remedying this my new year's goal!
I love this. My wife is the same way. She travels as if she were moving. I long ago gave up not embracing her need to prepare for the end times while travelling. When she comes to stay for a few weeks a year from our home in Idaho to our place in Southern California, she flies and I drive her car with our dog. Our travel manifest includes blankets, pillows and 3 suitcases of God knows what. Often times food, medical supplies, books, stationary and a heated throw. Last trip included a blender and her favorite iron skillet. I think the skillet was just a warning shot if I complained about the cargo. I never complain. I just love everything about her. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Walter!
I’m picturing Princess Vespa from Spaceballs!
But seriously, I always have a large purse too. Sure, men get by without purses, and my daughter won’t carry one, but those are the people always needing to borrow a pen, or tissues, or to stuff their keys in my purse, or something. Maybe not everyone needs to drag shit around but those of us that do seem to help everyone else out.
That is what I tell my husband, who often asks if he can put his phone, wallet, and keys in my purse for "safe keeping."
My bag shows that I operate in lifeguard mode, watching for needs to be met or noses that need a tissue or a throat lozenge to soothe a cough. I am the "Keeper of Things One Might Need," or never need. My own rarely use inhaler has a space where I can find it, most of the time. My cellphone sinks to the bottom where it hides under keys, notebooks and a hair brush, as well as receipts and old sticks of chewing gum, and maybe a few coins. It's my lot in life to collect things, just "because." I am who I am. Deal with it, world...
Gorgeous writing.
Happy Thanksgiving.
🍁
Love this, I have the same "quirk." The funniest part for me is when I find ten lip chaps in one bag, or *every* piece of jewelry I've been looking in another (when I used to smoke, I called this phenomenon lighter booms and busts). I swear there is a natural law that sorts my clutter this way 😂 Also, my favorite purse is my favorite because it holds a paperback so perfectly.
It’s not just me! It’s plagued me my whole life.
This was a great read, Amanda. No kidding, Keturah and I have had almost identical interactions to the one you describe with Walter. I love that woman dearly, but good heaven, I had no idea that by marrying her I’d signed myself up for a lifetime assignment as a professional porter!
We are traveling now with over FOURTEEN bags… to go see grandma 3 hours away… dutifully, I carry the bags.
It’s an endearing trait, I think. I tell myself it’s OK if you don’t bring it with you, because then you can buy locally sourced stuff at the destination! And of course a new bag to carry it all home 😁
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend. I’m thankful for your hilarious writing to kick it off!
Well... my sister is a Pisces Sun too and, besides never closing a door or putting a cap back on anything, she has an issue with packing, eliminating, and limiting stuff too. Astrologer that I am, I chalk it up to a radically "open" mindset in keeping with her oceanic personality profile. Feel free to try that on.
Also, if you're ever in Tulsa again, look me up!
I love your writing. Thank you and Happy American Thanksgiving! ( PS. AWAY luggage is on sale right now...I splurged a while back and love my suitcase. You have to be okay with clamshell style though).
Thank you for this note and for the luggage tip!! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. 🦃
My grandmother referred to her purse as “the worldly goods.” I started carrying one in college when I was partying so hard that I needed a way to insure that my keys and wallet were always attached to my person, regardless of my fitness to use either. When I spent a semester and a summer in Budapest, I negotiated a giant duffel my husband calls “the hockey bag” and a garment bag I loaded so full that the clips broke through airports, train stations and tram platforms as if I needed to represent the entirety of American capitalism to the benighted peoples of Eastern Europe, just crawling out from under the Iron Curtain in 1997.
I too am a schlepper. Now, about those cowboy boots stuffed into your suitcase, I think you might need a separate bag. Happy Thanksgiving!
My husband and I were just having a conversation last night about my tendency to pack like I'm moving the whole house, and how we need to figure out a better solution for our travels!! I don't carry a purse anymore now that I'm married, but my backpack is always heavier than my husband's, or if we're traveling by car I still have more bags than him. And it's true -- I just have too many projects, things for emergencies, etc. And then it explodes around us. Maybe I'll make remedying this my new year's goal!
Brilliant!
Elsbeth Tascione tote bags?! 🤣🤣🤣
I constantly remind my wife of the time lost by looking for stuff lost in other stuff. So familar situation in my life. Excellent fun essay.
I love your writing and I was chuckling all the way through your piece. You see, you are just like our adult daughter.
Hahaha I love that. Thank you, friend! 🙏