Lucy's Going Away Present: a Tan Leather Bag

posted on 31 January 2012 | posted in Fashion

I've been working at the university for almost a quarter of a century, so I a number of people have come and gone through my office. Lucy was a professor and I worked in her research group. She was what is known as an elegant lady, always dressed well in trendy wear. Just before retiring she gave me a box wrapped in navy blue paper. On opening it I discovered an assortment of things including books, some costume jewellery, a mouse pad depicting the Eiffel Tower, two silk shirts and matching scarfs and right there on the bottom, a tan leather handbag. I knew that the handbag was bought on a high street in Paris. It had a long adjustable handle. The bottom half of the bag was leather while the top half was a soft suede that could either be folded into the rest of the main body or extended for more room. I had seen that bag full of papers, tests, money or just the simple things people find in a woman's purse, glasses, a notebook, phone, keys and spare change. I had always loved that bag and now it was given to me. It was as good as new, as were most of Lucy's things. She was giving it to me because she new I would appreciate the gesture and not think of it as a hand me down. I was quite thoughtful of taking the bag to work, since I didn't want anyone to recognize it. But one Monday morning as I was running late and didn't have the time to shift my things into another purse, I grabbed it along with my keys and went to work. That of course was the day when everybody had to parade through my office for this or for that. A few people did notice the bag. One professor commented on how nice it looked hanging there next to my coat. Someone else even put it on her shoulder to size it up. No-one recognized it. No-one connected it to Lucy who had left only a few months ago. That was why she had given the tan bag to me. She knew I loved it although I was the only person in the building who was not in the least interested in fashion and in good looks. I still carry the bag. I love it. It goes with anything I wear, especially with the jeans I usually wear. I can put anything in it and wear it on one shoulder or over my head. And every time I send a loving thought to Lucy.More on this Topic: csmonitor.com | www.preciousbags.co.ukFurther Reading: investopedia.com | newsvine.com | peoplefinders.com