Identity confusion

[sienamystic]

I love my mother-in-law. She's a genuinely nice lady, very loving, very cool. I sometimes find her a trifle dorky in that generational way - no doubt in the same way that I will be dorky when I'm in my seventies.

I just got a birthday present from her in the mail. It's a Coach wallet. A quick trip to the Coach website reveals that it cost close to what I paid for my iPod Touch. The reason I looked is because I was hoping that it wasn't very expensive, because I'm feeling weirdly guilty about receiving it. This very nice wallet is going to end up being carried around in my ten-dollar, hippie-made, sourced-entirely-from-Goodwill purse, at least until it wears out and I buy a new one...probably from Target. I feel like this poor little wallet is going to be very confused about its new life with me. And a teensy part of my brain is going, "Did she not notice that I've never been one for designer bags? Did she forget that for big chunks of my life, I've used things like canvas bags obtained free from conventions, stuff that was on sale at Old Navy, and, perhaps most fashionably, a woven bag a friend brought me from a Paraguayan market?" I am trying to quash that part of my brain as being ungrateful, because it is. And MIL can be a trifle clueless, or perhaps she asked SIL, who is a fashion-diva-whozitz. And really, how the fuck am I supposed to turn up my nose at a lovely, expensive wallet? That's just twelve kinds of weird.

I just...feel strange about it. Like I should go out and buy a nicer bag so the wallet doesn't feel like it's come down in the world.

Comments

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

It's also possible she thought, "You know, she doesn't really have enough luxuries in her life - I'm going to give her something beautiful that she can carry around with her." Anyway, it might be useful to assume that's what she thought just so you don't have to feel guilty.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

It's entirely possible. I know that whatever the thought process, her intentions were to get me something lovely that I wouldn't buy for myself, which is exactly what the wallet is. I've determined to enjoy it - it is a tidy little thing - and not worry about the fact that it's currently in a purse with a giant grease spot on it, from getting caught in my bike wheel.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

The lovely new wallet will undoubtedly enjoy being able to relax in the company of accessories less concerned with maintaining appearances.

[bemused-leftist.livejournal.com]

I'd probably put a plastic bag around it so it wouldn't get dirty. That would make it easier to find and pull ou t, too.

Then I'd probably develop a category of little stuff that went in the plastic bag but outside the wallet.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I am rather worried about it getting dirty. Everything I own seems to get dingy really quickly, because I'm what they call cack-handed.

I have a couple of dresses hanging in my closet that I have to force myself to wear, because I believe that I'll ruin them by wearing them. I perhaps have some issues.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Hee! My sister said that it was about time it came down to the common folk and did some honest, hard work!

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

I think it's almost impossible to tell the difference between "I carry cheap bags because I can't afford a nice one, so I would love to get a nice one as a gift" and "I carry cheap bags because I don't care about bags" from the outside.

Also Coach will repair their stuff for life, so the wearing out may take a while. :)

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's possible that she thinks I've been quietly wanting these sort of little luxury touches, and that she was happy to provide it. Whatever her thought process, it was a loving one. And I'm not trying to be some sort of fist-waving reactionary, either - the trappings of the elite are valueless because I am a poor but proud worker! I throw my wooden shoe at you! I will use this cute little wallet, and enjoy it. I'm just vaguely bemused.

That's good to know about their repair policy, because I'm sure to need it.