L.L. Bean

I have to confess something. This is something that I sometimes struggle admitting as a straight man. Ok, here goes nothing....I use a man purse. Yeah, that's what I said, I USE A MAN PURSE!!

At the age of 14, when I was sent home from the hospital after being diagnosed, the doctors sent me packing with a purple purse-like bag that was to be my "carrying case" for all of my diabetic supplies. Don't ask me why it was purple. I guess they just figured that purple was a "universal" color and that it would work just fine for both BOYS and girls?! WHO KNOWS? All I know, is that it did work just fine. For example, if we were leaving the house, or going out to dinner, or if I had to go to a function of any kind, I would just load up my man purse with everything that I could POSSIBLY need for the night. Heck, I could even fit extra stuff in it like a comb, a toothbrush, and a couple of snacks. Let's just say that my purple man purse got PLENTY of use.

I used this thing so much that I wrote my last name in all capital letters, in permanent marker, all over both the inside and outside of it. It read, "Bell's Diabetic Supplies, call (573) 555-5555 if found". My man purse and I were inseperable! My poor momma had to literally force me to wash the darn thing. It was covered with unidentifiable stains and marks. It also had it's fair share of holes and after the first year or so, it had lost all the insallation that it had originally come with. I regularly stapled the sides shut so that things wouldn't fall out. Unfortunately though, my purple man purse had to eventually be retired. It had seen far too many days.

On the flip side, there are two positive things that came from the death of my purse. One, a ceremonial burning that took place around a family camp-fire and two, I got an upgrade! For christmas a couple years ago I was rewarded with the greatest gift that I man-purse-toting-male could ask for: a real man purse! It's equipped with multiple pockets and zippers, and actually designed by a company that makes lots of manly outdoor stuff :)

I have now struck up a new and more improved realtionship with the upgrade.

This one actually carries my pocket knife and digital camera too. The following is ACTUALLY in my man purse as we speak. My meter case and it's belongings, my insulin and it's cold pack, my ipod, my digital camera and battery charger, my synthroid vial, my checkbook, my toothbrush with toothpaste tube and floss, fingernail clippers, spare change, and much much more!

Whether or not you are male or female, purses can come in handy. I have found, although not without loads of harassment and name-calling episodes from my male counterparts, success with carrying my own. However, one clear distinction must be made if you are a male carrying the purse in a male-female relationship. We will NOT, under ANY circumstances, be found in possesion of any of your female items that you may feel so inclined to ask as we enter into a night-club or restaurant, "can I put this (insert feminine product of your choice) in there?"