I am turning into my Mom!

16 years ago

She's been gone for 7 years now and I still miss her terribly... she had 7 kids and was always prepared for any situation. I thought of this just now while I was looking for an SD card in my purse. Except for the ciggs, lighter and nicorette gum, like her I think I am prepared for most situations!

Whats in your purse? I have:

6 pens

wallet

small bottle hand sanitizer

hair clip

face powder

lipstick

1 dum dum sucker

stain remover pen

rosary

prayer card

camera

3 lens cloths

4 moist towlettes

1 bandaid

16 breath mints

5 pieces of sesame candy

1 footie (to try on shoes)

2 fortune cookie fortunes

1 utility knife/8 in one tool

1 unwrapped fig newton

cell phone

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Comments (21)

caliloo
16 years ago
OMG - I am afraid to look! LOL! We just got back from vaca, and I have even more *stuff* than usual. From memory:

Wallet - so overstuffed with receipts that it doesnt close
Make up pouch - several lipsticks, mascara, eye shadow, blush, powder, perfume testers
First Aid kit - band-aids, "neo to go", tylenol, aspirin, burn cream samples, bee sting wipes, extra set of contacts, etc.
Keys
3 pens
sun glasses
reading glasses
comb
kleenex pocket pak
2 boxes of crayons (from a restaurant with the kids)
2 3-D glasses (same restaurant)
Bed Bath Beyond coupon
2 match box cars
a baggie of shells, small rocks and a 17th century clay pipe stem from the Isles of Shoals
crochet hook
lighter
matches
nail clippers
pocket knife
business cards (too many!)
several dollars worth of loose change
Ginger chocolate altoids
listerene breath spray
sand

I think that is it... but I am not going to go looking for more stuff! LOL!

Alexa
mustangs81
16 years ago
Oh man, I can't participate. If I do carry a purse, it's very small and compact. Otherwise I put my very, very small bi-fold wallet and my car key in my pocket.

My (female) boss told me once as I was digging in my suit pocket for money to pay for lunch "that's just not feminine".

For travel, I carry a tote with itineraries, reading material, and notebook PC. My travel documents and ID will be around my neck (travel wallet on a string) for quick access.
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Wondering...your Mom most likely feels close to her son...they share a home now...why should she want to see him homeless upon her death? If she buys his cigs and booze..he must be doing enough household duties to get those things..she may buy them whether he did or did not do anything for her....have you ever gone there to help out? Run errands, take her to dr....all those things that adult kids do for parents?? Maybe...your brother feels obligated to live there....be her housemate because he does not see anyone else stepping up to do the maintenance that she may need to run a house...I have seen this arrangement for years with men who live with parents... They give up certain life events such as dating, marrying and sometimes holding a good job because demands at home do not allow it...when my father was ill...I could not work....I had my own home but had to stay at home just to be able to care for my fathers transportation needs to drs ofc. My mother would not do it.... It sometimes appears as if the brother has a great time, but have you actually thought of the things he may have to deal with...maybe that is why the booze...is your concern having the will favor you some? I think your mom might see you as someone who she cannot depend on...I have a mother who made it public knowledge that she favored her boys over her daughters....she even said it as I was carting her a** around town running errands...while my oldest bro...her favorite did not lift a finger for her...ever..that I saw.... My middle bro owns the house...mother is not that crazy about him...but she will leave anything she has to my younger bro....older bro has his own money too....I do not go to my mothers house because when I did my brothers wete verbally hateful....you never knew what they would say....my mother basically kicked me to the curb 14 years ago when I started working full time....if I could not do things for her...she had no reason to talk to me..as she had done to all five of daughters....when my older sister passed away...she did not want to really talk to me after all that time...nephew passed away several months prior and I sat next to her after 12 yrs and she got up and left room. When my sister passed away she started speaking to me only to get a ride to funeral home...after that..nothing...about 2 yrs later after a conversation with another sister about problems in my marriage...my mother calls about a month or so later.....only to hear the details...thinking I would tell her anything...when I did not give her what she wanted...she stopped calling...my mother was just vacant emotionally to her daughters...not much better with sons but she treated them better.... If you are smart...you will let your brother be with this issue....some women thrive on seeing their kids fight..mine did....I have nothing to say to my mother that would mean anything at this point...she raised her kids half a**ed...but we all turned out good.....the girls all have had marital problems...and dependence on husbands because we were forced to leave home by the time we were sixteen....I did not go to clg till I was an adult and had no op to have a real career... I say all this because some women are just born to make trouble for their kids...they will play one off on the other....thats likely what she is doing now...her way of saying..."see what i did"...
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mustangs81
16 years ago
I forgot, there was that time when at a week long Cooking Forum get together that I carried a sick of butter in my purse. It came in handy.
annie1992
16 years ago
Mine should be quick. I have:

Wallet
Cell Phone
Pictures of family
Reading glasses
Keys
Pill box with Motrin and Zantac
Stickers and 3 tokens from Chuck E Cheese (grin)

Annie
pkramer60
16 years ago
I am not looking, but I call it the trash bag....and my left shoulder is always sore from the weight.

Cathy, if I recall, the stick somehow ended up in my bag either later that night or the next day. I got up in the middle of the night to see if I ever took it out when we got back to the cabin. TG, I did!
dedtired
16 years ago
When I was a kid my mom would say "go get my bag for me" and I would pick it up and wonder what the heck could make it weigh so much. Now that I am her, I know. Here's what's in mine:

Card holder with 19 plastic cards and my business cards
Small address book
Large address book with various papers stuck in it such as lists, coupons and an unfilled prescription
pencil case with pens, highlighter, pencil, tape measure and paint samples
Makeup bag with 3 lipsticks, tic-tacs, mirror, eye shadow, eye pencil, hair clip, tweezers, bottle of pills, cloth to clean glasses, cuticle cream
Kleenex pack
footies
check book
cell phone
clip-ons for glasses
envelope with receipts for health savings account
$56 dollars and about a pound and a half of change

It would be worse but I cleaned it out recently.
lindac
16 years ago
I won't play....it's too embarrassing!
But what I find particularly disconcerting....is the fact that my daughter is now turning into me!! At last count she had 6 lipsticks rolling around in the bottom of her purse.....and none on her lips!
Linda c
claire_de_luna
16 years ago
Well...I have a Tenee bag inside my Wallet bag. That's so I don't always have to take my Wallet Bag.

Tenee has two credit cards, insurance, library and club cards; a blank check; a very slim pair of reading glasses, a pen and 3x5 card, cell phone with an extra battery, folding money. If I have to, I can thread my sunglasses and keys through a very small D ring on the back of the bag.

Wallet Bag (in addition) has a days worth of meds, plus pain relievers; a pen with a battery powered fan at the end (yes, I've used it), a very small clip-on flashlight so I can see inside my bag, antibacterial wipes, a reusable bag that folds up into its own pocket; lipstick, and a small microfiber for cleaning my reading or sunglasses.

It's my car that holds everything else! I think that's why I like to drive...that way if I need tissues, gum or mints, a hair clip, a glass of water, more shopping bags, etc. I have it. (I really prefer having storage on wheels!) Just today, I had to use a microfiber towel that I had stowed in the back (with windex) to clean my windshield. I even have small insulated bags with quart size ziplocks in them so I can keep the remains of a restaurant meal cool during these hot summer days, simply by asking for a ''go-cup of ice''. It beats having to go directly home simply because I have food in my car, and I use them so often, my friends are starting to do the same.
mustangs81
16 years ago
Oh Claire, Every time you post I read it because we are so alike in so many ways. This time it's:
microfiber cloth in car to clean windows (at stop lights).
''go-cup of ice'' for food cooler in trunk.
D ring hooked to purse with small flashlight, aspirin fob, and small tape measure.
Reading glasses that clip on small purse.
claire_de_luna
16 years ago
Cathy, I think you are my soul sister. We should probably meet in real life so we can count the ways we have in common. There's probably so many more that we're not even aware of!

I will say, I recently took my small measuring tape out of my bag when I needed to use it, and forgot to put it back in. Otherwise, it would have made my list! Thanks for reminding me.

How do your reading glasses clip onto your purse?
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
I don't like big purses either..
Mine is maybe 8"x6".
It holds my 'wallet' which is a actually a glorified coin purse. It holds all my cards, money and coins.
My checkbook is in there, right now 2 pens(normally just one), 2 shopping bags one that rolls up and one that is in a little pouch, lip balm, a blessings rock and spare van key in the inside pocket. Oh and a mini tube of hand lotion. There is usually a lip gloss..but it fell out and I haven't replaced it with the back up one yet. LOL oh and 2 sets of keys. My keys and the keys to my snack shacks for Little League.
annie1992
16 years ago
Claire, you need a flashlight to find things inside your purse? Really? How deep IS that purse? LOL

The way you describe it, it reminds me of that cartoon I saw when the kids were young, it was a caveman with big pockets and he'd reach in and pull out money and pens and groceries and dogs and dinosaurs...

Annie
mustangs81
16 years ago
Annie, I often think "why do I need a flashlight on/in my purse". In my case it came with the ring that I use to keep my often used tape measure and my never used pill fob (thankfully never used because it has Raymond's nitroglycerin in it; I figure I can get to it in an emergency and he will have forgotten to bring his).
annie1992
16 years ago
Cathy, that makes perfect sense, and Ashley carried a flashlight in her purse so she could see the doorknob to unlock it when she came in at night.

Claire just said she needed it to see inside her purse, and it just kind of tickled me. You know I have that strange sense of humor and all I could think about was that silly cartoon....

Annie
mustangs81
16 years ago
Annie, I was with you with the flashlight to look in the purse thing, I got a chuckle out of it too! And knowing how organized Claire is, my first thought was that it wasn't necessary. I have no less than 8 flashlights around the house, garage, and car. I'm not afraid of the dark contrary to what this revelation says about me! LOL
claire_de_luna
16 years ago
Well, I don't really need the flashlight, but if I'm in a dark place and have to find something, it helps me see! (My bag has lots of pockets, zippers, etc.) My flashlight is less than an inch square and clips onto the pen holder, so it doesn't take up much room. Sometimes dh is directed to ''go look in my purse'' and really, it's probably more helpful to him! (My bag is about the size of Terri's so it's not that deep.) My MIL was in a public restroom once and someone reached in and turned the light off while she was in a stall. Apparently it was pitch black in there and it scared her. DH reminded her she had a little flashlight in her purse, which I think she carries now to this day. Cathy's right; it's not really necessary...I just like to be prepared. My pen fan gets used far more than the flashlight!
claire_de_luna
16 years ago
...once I started thinking about it, sometimes I really DO need it to see inside my purse. This happens when I switch bags and I'm not sure where I'm keeping things, and especially when the lining of the bag is dark. It really does help when you have to go fishing in a theater or dark restaurant. I used to know someone who would only buy bags with light interiors, just so she could find the contents of her bag more easily. Unfortunately, that limited me too much, so the flashlight takes care of it!
annie1992
16 years ago
Oh dear, Claire, now I have to check in the inside color of my purse too? Sigh.

I buy one purse. It's either black or brown. I prefer leather. I use it until it falls apart, then I buy one more purse. Either black or brown. Preferably leather. LOL

My girls say I'm in a rut, but it's easy and I don't have to think about it.

Hey, I have a RED wallet.....

Truthfully, there are a lot of times I think I could use a flashlight in the Jeep, to find whatever Bruvver just dropped under the seat. Those darned hot wheels cars just roll right under. I doubt I'll ever remember to get one and keep it there, though. The Flashlight, not Hot Wheels car, LOL.
dgkritch
16 years ago
Let's see (from memory...probably be a lot less than what's really there!! LOL):

Wallet (contains, cash, checkbook, pen, CC, business cards, discount cards)
Little container with Tylenol
Cell phone
Chapstick (I hate lipstick)
Mini altoids
Mini emory board
Mini nail clippers
Tweezers
Feminine hygiene
My badge for work (when I'm not wearing it around my neck)
2 jump drives
Slim reading glasses
Keys
Roll of Tums (for DH)
And a handful of change rattling around the bottom.
It's pretty "clean" right now!

Just don't ask about my desk drawer or car...

Deanna
sheshebop
16 years ago
1. wallet
2. suede pencil case with 3 pens,4 pencils 2 automotic
pencils, 8tubes of lead refills, and 1 eraser.
3. envelope of money collected from work to buy a gift
for someone
4. sunglasses in case
5. pack of tissues
6. address book
7. case holding lipstick
8. plastic bag with portable pepper grinder filled with
favorite pepper
9. receipt from Big Box store
1. 4 sets of keys
  That's it!
kathleenca
16 years ago
Oh dear.

1. keys
2. wallet with driver's license, money, credit, library & insurance cards
3. Band-Aid
4. card with 3 Gas-X pills
5. card with 8 Meclizine pills that seem to have expired last October
6. inhaler
7. key to my daughter's house
8. case for reading glasses that I wear whenever I am inside
9. checkbook with bank card & a couple of discount cards
1. pen
2. Blistex
3. lipstick
4. lip liner
5. emery board
6. package with 3 Stim-U-Dents
7. 2x3 mirror in plastic case
8. paper towel in baggie with 3 more Gas-X that are coloring the towel lavender
9. a $20 bill so I'm never broke
10. ticket stubs for "Julie & Julia" and "Harry Potter"
11. Admit One stub, to where I have no idea
12. receipt for a key fob battery that I bought in June
13. receipt for gift shoes for my husband
14. receipt for his birthday dinner at a steak house
15. business card for a medical office
16. one Quality Stree chocolate
17. five Breath Savers
18. a red & white wrapped hard candy that I just threw out
19. large paper napkin (the nice, soft kind)
Sigh - I suppose it could be worse...

I am turning into my Mom!

Comments (21)

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