My "dude" wallet...

So, I had never really thought much about my wallet, it held the things that I needed it to hold, and I kept it in my purse. I had probably bought it in a two for one sale at one time (it's pretty much identical to Cory's, just a basic black bi-fold), who knows, I've had it so long that I don't remember when I got it. Anyway, one day my brother saw me with it out and said, appearing to be sort of shocked, confused, and amused all at the same time, "Is that yours?" I told him it was. "That's a dude wallet!" He told me. And it basically was, so I didn't argue with him, I just told him that I didn't keep it in my back pocket, so what did it matter? I blew him off, and didn't think it wasn't a big deal.

Then, a year or so later, he and I had pretty much the exact same conversation. Again, I thought it was just my brother, but recalled that this wasn't the first time that my wallet had been a topic of conversation. Weird...

Earlier this month, at my book club, I got a call on my cell, just as I was getting ready to pay for my dinner. Stepping away from the table to take the call, I left my "dude" wallet out on my purse. When I came back to the table, my girlfriends were all checking it out. They thought that maybe I had taken Cory's for the evening. No, it was mine, my "dude" wallet.

I am generally quite secure in my own style, and am not all that concerned about others opinions regarding it. I consider myself to be a pretty classy, pulled together kind of girl, and it was suddenly very clear to me that this "dude" wallet of mine, that I had been walking around with for FAR too long was not at all classy. I am simply not a "dude" wallet kind of girl, and I don't know why it took me so long to see that (you do understand that this is really a very light hearted concern of mine, right? ;-)

So, today I bought myself a new... pocketbook. It's classy and teal, and very much my style. It still goes inside my purse, just the same as my "dude" wallet did, yet, my pocketbook, I am now proud to pull out when it's time to pay, and will hopefully no longer have any awkward discussions regarding - ever. I am now a new woman, and have purged the "dude" wallet. Goodbye old friend.

P.S. The best part about this whole thing is that today, July 31st, I am blogging about something as light hearted as what I choose to carry my money in, when a year ago, on this date, I was pleading for prayer for my parents, my father especially, after they had been in a nearly fatal accident. Don't take a single day for granted, don't drink and drive, and tell those that you love that you love them - even if they make fun of your wallet. God Bless!