Hi my name is Menay and I have a handbag problem. I really do.  I call myself a handbag whore. It used to be shoes well… who am I kidding it’s still shoes but I started to fall in love with purses I’d say within the past 10 years or so. Even since I stopped carrying diaper bags and lugging my kids’ stuff wherever we went. Even when I had Samantha I didn’t use a traditional diaper bag. Most days when we went out, say when she was about 8 months old I just shoved a couple of diapers in what ever purse I was using and we were out the door. She was breast fed so even in the beginning when she was an infant I didn’t really “need” a full on diaper bag. She was the youngest of 4 so you use your experience and stop bringing everything and the kitchen sink when we went out.

So back to me being a handbag whore. It just happened I swear and I can’t help it, especially now that I’m working and have a bit of money. And before anyone gets all judgey on me take a look around we all have our “thing” that sets our hearts on fire. That thing that we can’t help but love and must have more of. To some it’s summer shoes, some sunglasses and others boots…just to name a few without naming the actual person who I know has those obsessions/wants/must haves.

I love all my bags I do have certain favorites but sometimes they aren’t always practical to care such as a top handle hand carry handbag in the rain. Trying to balance an umbrella and hand carry purse in the rain just stinks and I’ve learned my lesson. I can change bags up to three times a week. Each has a specific function and most have a place in my heart. A lot of my bags I’m sentimentally attached to believe it or not. I’ve sold a few here and there but those weren’t bags that made my heart sing or were given to me as gifts.

There are others out there like me; bag whores. I met one at work and we were both so happy we met!  She is a nurse like me doing chart abstracting and she was carrying a gorgeous Rebecca Minkoff purse. She admired my black Tory Burch. What an awesome common ground to have! We ended up becoming fast friends not just because of our purses but because we had other things to talk about of course. But it was still nice to have that common ground.

So here’s to all my fellow bag lovers out there and our husbands who try to understand and are generous enough to give up precious closet and armoire space for the sake of their wives’ shoes and bags.

 

 

In a couple of days I’ll say goodbye to my Brooklyn assignment. I’m not sorry to go. I won’t miss the traffic to and from work and I certainly won’t miss alternate side of the street parking days.  The people who drive in Brooklyn are totally a different bunch. If you don’t have your foot poised and ready to go on the gas pedal when the light turns green you get unmercifully honked at. If you’re double parked to slip into someone’s space after they leave you better have those hazard lights on. If you don’t know how to parallel park you’d better learn; fast.  These are the life lessons I’ve been taught here in Brooklyn. I’ve also noticed I’m a less patient driver when I’m home in my own borough. Hopefully that will work itself out. I don’t hate it here, it’s just different from what I’m used to. I went shopping on my lunch break today.  Something I’m not able to do when I work in my home area. I ran to the Gap to make a return and of course couldn’t leave without seeing what was on sale. Then I literally ran back to work to scarf down a yogurt so I wouldn’t be too hungry later.

The people at this office have been very nice and accommodating to us. I’ve been chatty with the office manager and she’s very sweet and genuine. The other front desk people and secretaries are also really nice to be around. The doctors we’ve been interacting with have been quite interesting. Some have more personality than others and some just don’t talk to you at all; very strange. I’ve met one gastroenterologist who is into handbags like me, I though that was pretty cool.

I’d say the best part about being here is that I’ve made a new friend. She’s also a nurse abstracting charts but she only works 3 days a week. She’s younger than me, like 24 ish, but she’s really cool and mature and so nice to be around. I hope we get to work together again.

So I’ll soak up Brooklyn in my last days here. Farewell Gyro restaurant across the street, goodbye Gap store two blocks down, goodbye loud subway train a half block away…its been real.