“Do you have a tissue?” my husband asked the other day while we were out and about.
“No, sorry,” I replied, rummaging around in my bag for show. I knew I didn’t have any. I felt a pang of embarrassment. You wouldn’t think not having a pack of tissues would cause such emotion, but you didn’t grow up with my mom. My mom always carried a pack of tissue with her without fail. Once, when she overheard me tell my sister I didn’t have any in my purse, she called me a Barbarian. (I didn’t understand this dramatic response until years later, when visiting China, and I had to learn the hard way. It turns out that tissue, toilet paper, napkins–these are not given out so freely as they are here in the U.S.)
Other things I often don’t have in my bag? Gum, hard candy, a pen. Sometimes I don’t even have a bag. I’d rather stuff things into my pocket than schlep around a purse, especially if I can’t find one that makes my outfit just right.
What are the things my husband often asks for? Gum, hard candy, a pen. “Why do you even carry a purse when you don’t have anything good in there?” he asked me years ago when I once again came up empty-handed. Lipstick, an old receipt, and some Mexican pesos–those aren’t good? Maybe he should carry a bag.
What’s in your purse, bag, backpack? Do you have a tissue?
9 responses to “What’s in your bag?”
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There’s a fun theme running through some of the posts today – Glenda Funk wrote about not having a pen in her purse! So funny. I often don’t carry a purse at all these days, darting into stores with only my license and my credit card…my car has become my purse, hahaha with tissues, wipes, masks, pens, paper…
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This made me smile because I am constantly asking Kathy if she has something in her purse that I need, most notably an aspirin when I have a headache. I know, I should be responsible for having whatever I think I might need.
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All things in the console of my car, ready for a request. Otherwise I do not carry a purse. Billfold, yes. Otherwise I packed the kitchen sink and still didn’t have the one thing I thought I needed. Great post!
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I’ve had to lighten up my bag recently because of my neck and back issues. Therefore, I have the essentials. I carry tissues, keys attached to a small wallet, and headphones. I also carry hand sanitizer, a pen, and a stylus — because I’m somewhat of a germaphobe!
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Your piece brought back a wonderful memory. I was a foreign exchange student in Argentina the summer of 1981, and this is a country that did/does not supply tissue in public restrooms. An item in my purse that is valued by my husband is his cheaters or reading glasses.
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Tissues, face masks, hand cream, Advil, dental floss, chap stick and my planner. Like you, I don’t carry my purse often. I end up stuffing my jacket pockets with phone, keys, sometimes a wallet, and always, tissues.
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I’m like you. A no purse girl. But my car… gum, pen, tissue… ✅
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The question for me would be what is not in your purse:) My purse is a hot mess because I try to shove anything and everything in it.
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I love your voice that runs throughout the slice.
I am also camp stuff essentials in pockets and avoid a purse where possibleLikeLike
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