The expedition was fabulous. I did spend time in the yarn market. I did meet friends, both anticipated and unanticipated. I should have realized how many people I knew who would be there and made more of an effort. So if I missed you I am sorry and I would have loved to meet. I should have registered and decided to stay for a longer period as soon as I knew that my life had changed and that attending might even enter the realm of possibility late last fall. But my mind was not working on that kind of schedule.
And yes, I did buy yarn, but more on that another time.
I was possessed with other ideas and other ambitions and so I pulled myself away from the market in the early afternoon in order to allow myself to wander and to shop. My primary goal was to visit several stores in search of a new bag, but there were a few extras on my list as well, one of which was a new wallet.
Did I need a wallet? Technically, no. Notice the part where I wrote "technically". I had a wallet. Notice the past tense. Now I have two wallets, but one is on its way out the door, as soon as I decide which door it is going through.
My previous wallet was perfectly functional and in good shape. It was well made and still looks fabulous after two years of constant use. But it was too big. I felt lost in it. Too many pockets, too many card slots. I couldn't find anything and I kept reorganizing it hoping to make it work better but only managing to confuse myself further. It was time.
The new wallet is only slightly smaller, but it is perfect in every way, including the luscious blue color. Although I didn't know what wallet I wanted, I knew where to look: Bottega Veneta. I had a Bottega Veneta wallet before the red one and I adored it. Except that it wasn't really a wallet. It was a card case, a grass green card case, made of the same intrecciato leather as this wallet, and it brought me great joy. I kept my cards in half and bills in the other half. I threw coins in the bottom of my purse and emptied them out into a jar every evening. I used that "wallet" for years, and I abandoned it not because it fell apart, or because I didn't love it, but because I suddenly found myself caring for another person and having to carry far more "stuff" in my wallet and the little green case just didn't cut it anymore. So I ordered the red Levenger wallet.
But it drove me crazy. And this year I knew what I wanted and where to get it: Bottega Veneta. It is true that I probably could have found an equally functional, well made wallet somewhere else and probably spent considerably less on it. But the details of this wallet bring me joy and although I could rationalize away my choice with some kind of exposition on quality, the truth is that the Levenger wallet is beautifully made for its price-point, and I was perfectly happy with it except that it was just too big. But I didn't realize that when I bought it. Now I know better. And I also know that I have a weakness for beauty and elegance, and yes, luxury. There, I've said it.
It is perfect for me. It has 8 card slots, just the right number. It has a coin pocket with a lovely, sturdy, metal zipper, a pocket large enough for bills or prescriptions or even, should I travel again, larger European currency. It has a pocket just the right size for my NYS automobile registration card which is larger than a standard credit card therefore annoying to carry in most wallets.
Because I was feeling indulgent, I also bought this lovely green woven keychain. I've wanted one of these for years but one never materialized. And there they were in the case next to the wallets. I really wanted the green wallet, but the wallet I wanted didn't come in green so I got the keychain so that I could have a little piece of that green attached to a nice sturdy ring. Somehow, not only do I need to carry more in my wallet than I used to, I carry more keys as well.
Oh, and I still dump out my coins at the end of each day, only now I save the quarters and dimes because I need them for parking meters and to claim a cart at the grocery store. Nickels and pennies still go in the jar.
If you know anyone that needs or wants a used but still in good shape red wallet that can double as a clutch and will hold an i-phone as well as currency, please let me know.
