9.9

Just before I went to Brazil 12+ years ago, I went shopping for a new wallet. I don’t remember what my old one was like, but I found a new one at TJMaxx that checked all my boxes: big, but not enormous; lots of options for various cards, stamps & labels, hair bands & bobby pins, money (of course), and even crochet hooks (I just found two that I didn’t even know were in there); and colorful (so I’d be able to easily locate it at the bottom of a tote bag while relaxing on a beach, let’s say).

I have used that wallet every day since I bought it. A few years ago, I kept losing change (I don’t always zip it all the way closed), so I used some trusty Button Craft Thread (the strongest thread known to man) and stitched it up where it had come apart a little. The exterior is fabric covered with plastic, and when the plastic started to wear through a couple of years ago, I reinforced it with Gorilla Tape.

I’ve been casually looking for a similar replacement… preparing for the inevitable. I just haven’t found anything in any shops that even comes close.

Then, a few weeks ago, the zipper started coming apart on one side, so I cut it off & put in a few stitches to stop the pull (now it won’t zip all the way closed). The other day, as I pulled the zip, I could feel it starting to give way on the other side. Arrgghhhh!

I just love this thing, so I took to Google for a BETSEY JOHNSON FLORAL WALLET. A good number of results appeared and helped me refine my search terms, because there are a lot (“zip-around” was key), and I found a few — used, but not quite as worn as mine — on eBay & Poshmark.

I kept looking and couldn’t believe it when I saw a “NWT” listing — it was even reduced in priced (less than one or two of the used ones). Hallelujah!! It arrived yesterday and, well, it’s just THRILLING!! I’m so happy (it’s the little things), and look forward to using this one… if it’s like the original, it should last until right around 2037. I’ll be 79! haha. Heck, maybe it’ll even last until I’m 80!!