you know it's a good bag when....

There's this really amazing priest I oftentimes have as my confessor when I go to reconciliation at St. Francis of Assisi in Herald Square. With their nearly 16-hour a day confession schedule, I always love to stop in. On the days when I see Father Patrick Ferguson's name outside the confessional, I get really excited. He seems to be able to put everything into perspective for me, and always takes the time to converse with Gabriel on the days I have to bring him. I knew he was great when for some reason the fact I took Lovenox throughout my pregnancy came up and his eyes lit up. "I had to take Lovenox once when I traveled to Florida! Airport security almost took the needle away from me until they saw I was a priest!" We both got quite a laugh at that.

So today when I went and saw Father Ferguson's name, I went in. I don't know if he remembered me as the Lovenox Lady, but he secured his name in my book of Favorite Fathers Ever when he noticed my Lucky Brand bag. The one I bought somewhere else besides Target (Macy's), the one I spent more than $20 on ($175, a year and a half ago actually, when the economy wasn't in the crapper), the one that always manages to illicit a response anytime I use it (read here), the one I use when I am not out and about with two kids (which requires a somewhat less fashionable bag). 

So after I am absolved of my sins and it's all hunky dory, Father Ferguson looks at my bag next to me and says, "That is a very nice bag."

"Thank you."

"It must have been a gift."

"More like a gift to myself...." (smiling)

"An expensive one, no less. The colored leather and suede is beautiful."

"Thank you, I thought so too. It was by far the most expensive bag I have bought, but as soon as I saw it I knew I'd use it for years. I mean, it's not as expensive as most 'expensive bags' out there, but for me it was..."

"Well, it's very nice. Classic, even."

"Thank you Father! Have a great evening!"

"Have a blessed day."

I think Father Ferguson and I would make great friends. How many other people out there do I share both a daily administration of Lovenox and an admiration of good bags with?