The Red Leather Purse

It was a hot sunny day in East Texas. We were on our way to visit my Aunt. Well, not really my aunt, but we call everyone "Aunt" in Texas. Little did I know that this day would change my life. It really was an uneventful day, except for the fact that my so called aunt gave me a cute "Red Leather Purse". It was l962 and the the purse is vintage now, which makes this story even better. It wasn't really about the purse, although it truly was adorable, but it was about what was inside the purse. I opened the purse when it was given to me and it was filled with colored embroidery threads. Me being just a child, it was like walking into Toys "R" Us nowdays. The different colors were so vivid they hurt your eyes. There was probably almost every color made at that time. And, the needles were included in a little pouch on the inside of the unbelieveable purse. When my aunt asked if I wanted it, I had to control myself to keep from snatching it from her. All I could say was thank you so much as I grasped it to me, not knowing at the time what was inside. It had belonged to my mother's real aunt, Mildred Holland. When I did push the litle metal clasp to the side and it popped open, I could not believe what a treasure I had. I was probably speechless for the first and last time in my life. As soon as we arrived home, I laid out everyone thread on my bed and began to untangle all of it. Since that day embroidery thread makes my heart beat faster. I breathe a little different when I touch it. My mom began to teach me that day how to embroidery. I loved to sew flowers over and over and that is what I still do. It is my passion and then I incorporated quilting with it. This has gotten me through alot of things in my life: waiting for babies to be born, living in Mexico, a horrible divorce, my daughter's surgery, hours of flying in our private planes, yeas of sitting watching games, cheerleading, piano lessons, dance lesson, and much more. Since that day, I have not left home without that purse or another bigger one now, with something inside to work on and lots of colored threads. My daughters also do not leave home without a beautiful tote filled with magazines and all kinds of other things to work on. I really don't know what life would be like for me, if this wonderful lady had not given me her mom's little red purse. It was just meant to be. And I thank God for this hot summer day that changed my life forever!!!!