Remember that Seinfeld episode when Jerry decides to get rid of his over-stuffed wallet and start using a “European Carry-All”? Everyone calls it a purse, and he insists it’s not (“It’s European!”), even though it is. A couple of months ago, I finally got tired the trade-off between stuffing every spare pocket with all my hearing gear (and eventually having to wear a sport coat and overcoat with yet more pockets, even in warm weather) vs. packing it all in my business briefcase that is too big to carry with me everywhere I go.
So, I got a purse. Not just any purse, mind you. I started with a very manly black leather number from Kenneth Cole that was advertised as a walking pouch “for men.” But at the end of the day, it looked like a purse. I think it was the skinny shoulder strap that always slipped off my shoulder. Plus it was too small. So I upgraded to what is essentially a handbag. It’s a Tumi Urban Shoulder Pack…. and it’s perfect. It’s big enough to accommodate all my hearing gear (as well as additional items I imagine one is supposed to carry in one’s purse, such as sunglasses, business cards, and a few pens), but small enough to carry along with my briefcase. It’s also got a shoulder harness that gives more of a backpack look and makes it easy to carry on a long walk. (My only regret is I didn’t stumble across the Man Bag website sooner, as I may have given one of their products a try, too). My kids still tease me in spite of all their school training in avoiding gender stereotypes. But I don’t care. If it’s good enough for A-Rod, it’s good enough for me.