Sitting down this morning and going through the #Holidays was both sweet and also bittersweet because it reminded me of my mom and the funny things she used to do. I thought I would share a funny story about my mom today since it’s National Handbag Day, I thought this would be the perfect time to share share the story with you!
When David and I were first dating, he wanted me to know he would never carry a woman’s purse. According to David Real men don’t carry women’s purses. Forget that old saying about real men not eating quiche. In David’s eyes, real men didn’t carry a woman’s purse, either!
Plus, we had a rule that we didn’t go through each other’s things. He wasn’t going through my purse, and I wasn’t going through his wallet. To us, that was just respect. Which is something I want Charlie to learn so when he gets married his wife knows he respects her and her belongings.
Growing up, my mom was famous for putting her purse in a shopping cart and walking off and leaving it. Back in the day, more and more women seemed to do that. They didn’t even think about it. They just put their purses in the cart and went about their shopping.
Well, one day, we went to a flea market, and my mom kept walking off and leaving her purse behind. Finally, David had enough. He said, “Just damn it to hell! If you’re gonna leave your purse sitting around for any Tom, Dick, and Harry to take it, then I might as well carry the damn thing!”
And from then on, anytime we went anywhere with my mom, it seemed David could be found carrying her purse. Yes, he fussed. Yes, he moaned. Yes, he groaned. Just like he would fuss and moan and groan about sitting up all night with her drinking coffee or playing Uno until the cows came home.
But I can bet your bottom dollar that if he had the opportunity to do any of those things today, he would. And so would I. Although I have to admit, I would probably be standing there with my hand over my mouth, kind of snickering. Because, y’all, it was funny seeing David carrying a purse! But don’t tell him I said that!
Now, here’s what makes this story even funnier. As much as David refused to carry a woman’s purse, he actually bought me a mini backpack with Eeyore and other things on it. I didn’t even know he had bought it for me! And that little backpack is one of my most-loved gifts.
Yes, it can absolutely be classified as a purse. And more times than not, you will see David carrying it for me, especially when we’re working and I’m trying to juggle too many things at once. So, the same man who once swore he would never carry a woman’s purse is now carrying my Eeyore backpack!
I guess you could say he has changed his mind over the years. Or maybe he just decided that helping his wife was more important than worrying about what anybody thought. Either way, I think it’s pretty sweet. So even though my husband carries a purse, he is a real man!
And that’s not the only time David’s stubborn side has made me laugh. One time, my sister borrowed my washer and dryer to do her laundry. David came home and needed to wash his clothes, but my sister’s clothes were still in the washer. I told him to move them. His answer? He wasn’t touching her clothes because he wasn’t going to touch her unmentionables!
The funny part is we didn’t even know if they was in there or not but he absolutely refused to check her clothes or move them. So those clothes sat in the washer until my sister came home from work, because I was at work and couldn’t move them myself. I still laugh thinking about that one. The man who would carry my mom’s purse around a flea market wasn’t about to touch his sister-in-law’s laundry!
Isn’t it funny how a little holiday like National Handbag Day can bring back so many memories? That’s one of the reasons I love having Greatful Moments. I get to share a little piece of our lives with you, tell you some of the stories that make me laugh, and remember the people and moments that mean so much to me.
So pull up a chair, sit a spell, and imagine us out on the front porch with a glass of tea, swapping family stories. Now it’s your turn! What’s a funny story about something someone in your family has done? I’d love to hear your stories, too. Because sometimes the little things we laugh about today become the memories we treasure tomorrow.
Until next time, remember to be grateful, thankful, and blessed!
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
