Yes, Your Life Really CAN Change Forever!

I couldn’t be more shocked if I tried.

Three weeks ago, my life changed forever. I had NO IDEA when I met my friend Terri for lunch that I was on the very cusp of a monumental revolution. Terri and I, you should know, have been friends more than 35 years. I was 17 and she was 13 when we met, so yeah. We’ve spent our formative years…together.

Somehow, though, I have eluded the lessons Terri has to share. Doug reminded me a few days ago that when he and I got married, Terri tried to help me set up my kitchen in an organizational manner that would make sense for longer than it took to unload the dishwasher, but I didn’t get it.

I’ve never understood how less could be more, and how a few good tools could make up for a whole junk drawer full of nonsense. I actually LIKE junk drawers. I like not knowing what I might find if I go foraging there, or—as my darling grandmother used to say—“swishing.”

I have not one, but two swishing drawers in my kitchen. If I ever thought I might need a bigger kitchen, it wouldn’t be to accomodate a granite-countered island or a commercial sized refrigerator or a huge stove. It would be so I could have more swishing drawers, especially now that the kids are gone and I have the leisure time to enjoy swishing to my heart’s content. :)

Terri hasn’t had her way with me in the kitchen. In fact, she gave up trying twenty years ago. But as we sat across from each other over salads and French onion soup, I noticed her new purse—the very purse I had nearly purchased for myself at WalMart a couple days earlier.

“I LOVE that purse!” I said.

She just looked at me, amazed at my excitement. “So buy yourself one. WalMart, clearance-priced at $7.”

“I almost did, but then I decided I don’t really need a purse…”

“If you get a new one, get rid of one of your old ones. What are you keeping all of them for?”

“You’re right, of course. I am going shopping after we eat. I am getting that purse. We’ll be purse twins!”

She gave me that look again, but I didn’t mind. Since she already thought I was a little off-balance, I went ahead and asked her something I have never asked another woman on this earth.

“Terri, may I see the inside of your purse?”

“Sure,” she said, like she gets asked that every day. She said it with the tone of voice you’d expect from a woman with nothing to hide and nothing about which to be humilated beyond belief, like coupons dated 1983 or paper money not all facing the same direction.

She opened her purse, and suddenly everything clicked in my addled brain. Inside her handbag, she didn’t have a bunch of junk rolling around loose. Instead, she had not one, but two different sized make-up bags. In one (yes, I made her open them so I could get the whole story…), she kept make-up, a mirror, nail files, a Tide spot remover, and other small essentials. In the other, she stored medication, Kleenex, a contact lens case, pens, etc.

Besides those two bags, she had a spot for her phone, her keys, and the thinnest, most functional wallet I’ve ever seen. In her wallet, unbelievably, she kept her MONEY! And her cards and receipts.

Who knew those weren’t things that women had free-floating in their purses? Along with band-aids, earplugs, capless lipsticks, a random sock, a skanky toothbrush, and a gunky bottle of nail polish?

I don’t know if Terri realized she’d just changed my life. I wouldn’t believe it myself, except that three weeks have passed and the inside of my new purse is as glorious as it was the moment I got home from WalMart and set it up. In addition to the purse I wanted, I got two matching lavendar make-up bags of differing sizes (so I would remember which things are stored where…) and a very thin wallet.

Besides the things Terri carries, I have a small Moleskine journal, which I can’t live without even if I CAN (it ends up) ditch the stray sock. That’s all she wrote, folks! One thin wallet, two make-up bags, a journal, keys, and phone.

And here’s the truly amazing thing: When I want to switch purses, it only takes five seconds, instead of upwards of eight hours! Did you people KNOW about this? Or have I just discovered the miracle of the ages?

I hope you enjoy my before and after pics. And Terri, there’s hope for me, after all. It only took 3.5 decades, but it goes to show old chicks can still learn new tricks. I, too, finally am reaping the benefits of the purse-driven life.

Posted by Katy on 10/23/07 at 05:04 PM

Fallible Comments...

Oh, Katy, I admire you! I always start off my new purses with the best of intentions...but two weeks later, it's an abyss of receipts, gum wrappers and used grocery lists. But you've inspired me. I'm cleaning out my purse today!
Posted by Cindy Swanson on 10/24/07 at 03:56 PM
Cindy--To think I could have lived my whole life like this! You know what? I think, all this time, I've been too cheap to buy the make-up bags! And, honestly, the make-up bags are the key to the organization working. And they cost $1.59 each! You, too, can enjoy the freedom of knowing how to find stuff in your purse!! No, it's NOT too late! Go for it!
Posted by Katy on 10/24/07 at 06:47 PM
The girls gave me a new purse for my birthday hoping that I would actually keep my wallet, credit cars and keys in it. So my kids haven't given up on me yet, even if my mother has. Perhaps you could introduce me to Terri??
Posted by alison on 10/26/07 at 03:40 AM
This is a good teraphy. Thank you.
Posted by Lens on 08/04/09 at 05:36 AM
Great ideas...thanks for sharing.
Posted by KarenZach on 07/12/11 at 12:29 PM
Fun to see you here, Karen! I am no paragon of virtue when it comes to any type of organization, so if I hit upon something that works well and consistently, I do love to spread the news!
Posted by Katy on 07/12/11 at 12:52 PM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	Yes, Your Life Really CAN Change Forever! I couldn’t be more shocked if I tried. Three weeks ago, my life changed forever. I had NO IDEA when I met my friend Terri for lunch that I was on the very cusp of a monumental revolution. Terri and I, you should know, have been friends more than 35 years. I was 17 and she was 13 when we met, so yeah. We’ve spent our formative years…together. Somehow, though, I have eluded the lessons Terri has to share. Doug reminded me a few days ago that when he and I got married, Terri tried to help me set up my kitchen in an organizational manner that would make sense for longer than it took to unload the dishwasher, but I didn’t get it. I’ve never understood how less could be more, and how a few good tools could make up for a whole junk drawer full of nonsense. I actually LIKE junk drawers. I like not knowing what I might find if I go foraging there, or—as my darling grandmother used to say—“swishing.” I have not one, but two swishing drawers in my kitchen. If I ever thought I might need a bigger kitchen, it wouldn’t be to accomodate a granite-countered island or a commercial sized refrigerator or a huge stove. It would be so I could have more swishing drawers, especially now that the kids are gone and I have the leisure time to enjoy swishing to my heart’s content. :) Terri hasn’t had her way with me in the kitchen. In fact, she gave up trying twenty years ago. But as we sat across from each other over salads and French onion soup, I noticed her new purse—the very purse I had nearly purchased for myself at WalMart a couple days earlier. “I LOVE that purse!” I said. She just looked at me, amazed at my excitement. “So buy yourself one. WalMart, clearance-priced at $7.” “I almost did, but then I decided I don’t really need a purse…” “If you get a new one, get rid of one of your old ones. What are you keeping all of them for?” “You’re right, of course. I am going shopping after we eat. I am getting that purse. We’ll be purse twins!” She gave me that look again, but I didn’t mind. Since she already thought I was a little off-balance, I went ahead and asked her something I have never asked another woman on this earth. “Terri, may I see the inside of your purse?” “Sure,” she said, like she gets asked that every day. She said it with the tone of voice you’d expect from a woman with nothing to hide and nothing about which to be humilated beyond belief, like coupons dated 1983 or paper money not all facing the same direction. She opened her purse, and suddenly everything clicked in my addled brain. Inside her handbag, she didn’t have a bunch of junk rolling around loose. Instead, she had not one, but two different sized make-up bags. In one (yes, I made her open them so I could get the whole story…), she kept make-up, a mirror, nail files, a Tide spot remover, and other small essentials. In the other, she stored medication, Kleenex, a contact lens case, pens, etc. Besides those two bags, she had a spot for her phone, her keys, and the thinnest, most functional wallet I’ve ever seen. In her wallet, unbelievably, she kept her MONEY! And her cards and receipts. Who knew those weren’t things that women had free-floating in their purses? Along with band-aids, earplugs, capless lipsticks, a random sock, a skanky toothbrush, and a gunky bottle of nail polish? I don’t know if Terri realized she’d just changed my life. I wouldn’t believe it myself, except that three weeks have passed and the inside of my new purse is as glorious as it was the moment I got home from WalMart and set it up. In addition to the purse I wanted, I got two matching lavendar make-up bags of differing sizes (so I would remember which things are stored where…) and a very thin wallet. Besides the things Terri carries, I have a small Moleskine journal, which I can’t live without even if I CAN (it ends up) ditch the stray sock. That’s all she wrote, folks! One thin wallet, two make-up bags, a journal, keys, and phone. And here’s the truly amazing thing: When I want to switch purses, it only takes five seconds, instead of upwards of eight hours! Did you people KNOW about this? Or have I just discovered the miracle of the ages? I hope you enjoy my before and after pics. And Terri, there’s hope for me, after all. It only took 3.5 decades, but it goes to show old chicks can still learn new tricks. I, too, finally am reaping the benefits of the purse-driven life. Posted by Katy on 10/23/07 at 05:04 PM Fallible Comments... Oh, Katy, I admire you! I always start off my new purses with the best of intentions...but two weeks later, it's an abyss of receipts, gum wrappers and used grocery lists. But you've inspired me. I'm cleaning out my purse today! Posted by Cindy Swanson on 10/24/07 at 03:56 PM Cindy--To think I could have lived my whole life like this! You know what? I think, all this time, I've been too cheap to buy the make-up bags! And, honestly, the make-up bags are the key to the organization working. And they cost $1.59 each! You, too, can enjoy the freedom of knowing how to find stuff in your purse!! No, it's NOT too late! Go for it! Posted by Katy on 10/24/07 at 06:47 PM The girls gave me a new purse for my birthday hoping that I would actually keep my wallet, credit cars and keys in it. So my kids haven't given up on me yet, even if my mother has. Perhaps you could introduce me to Terri?? Posted by alison on 10/26/07 at 03:40 AM This is a good teraphy. Thank you. Posted by Lens on 08/04/09 at 05:36 AM Great ideas...thanks for sharing. Posted by KarenZach on 07/12/11 at 12:29 PM Fun to see you here, Karen! I am no paragon of virtue when it comes to any type of organization, so if I hit upon something that works well and consistently, I do love to spread the news! Posted by Katy on 07/12/11 at 12:52 PM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: Getting To Know Him, Getting To Know All About Him Previous entry: Nancy Wood, Come On Down! << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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Yes, Your Life Really CAN Change Forever!

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri