The Pocketbook Phenomenon

I have come up with a few observations regarding pocketbooks that I would like to share with you. There are times when after seeing an elderly woman in the office I will pick up her pocketbook for her so she doesn't have to bend down and it astonishes me how heavy these bags are. Keep in mind that some of these women are quite old, have difficulty walking, and can barely bend down. Regardless, they carry these bags that definitely weigh over twenty pounds. What the heck are they carrying in there? No wonder they have back problems.

Another scenario arises while taking a history from a woman that I ask her a question and she responds that the answer is in her pocketbook and she will get it right away. Immediately, I know I am in for a five minute expedition while she searches the depths of this black hole known as the pocketbook. The search goes on and on as she exclaims I just had it, give me a second. She looks into pocket after pocket, compartment after compartment until I am ready to shoot myself while patients are waiting for me in the waiting room. Seriously gals, a pocketbook is just a bag of stuff thrown in no specific order that rarely gets cleaned out. It piles up loads of junk and it is nearly impossible to find anything in there.

The most surprising thing about this useless appendage that women carry is the obsession with them and the cost of these bags. They need a different one based on the color of their outfit and based on where they are going. And the costs of these pocketbooks goes into the thousands of dollars. Some women collect dozens of different bags. Not understandable to me.

Now I am not sure if it is my abnormality but I never notice a woman's pocket book. I never remember saying to myself wow, that pocket book just doesn't go with her outfit or it is so nice or so ugly. So I suspect the obsession isn't to impress a man but rather to outdo other women. They compete with other women over the beauty of their bags. Totally ridiculous.

I know I just do not understand women and certainly their obsession with a pocketbook. Maybe this is connected to a woman's inherent nesting impulses. Maybe there is a neurologic need to carry a portion of their belongings with them at all times. Who knows? Anyway, gotta go, I think that lady finally found what she was looking for in her pocketbook.