The Makeup Bag

Take a look at my makeup bag. I think that it is really ugly. I have looked for replacement bags, but I just can't get rid of it. There is one big reason I can't get rid of it, and I'd like to share that reason with you.

When I was about 14 years old, my mom asked me to go shopping with her to pick up a few more things before Christmas. It was close to Christmas eve, maybe the day before. Anyhow, my sister, Kim, and I were not getting along. I think that she was home from college, so we had to share our room. I'm sure that I was being good at being a 14 year old brat. In fact I know that I was a good brat, because of what happened while I was shopping with my mom.

Mom and I went to the makeup department of a store and she found the isle with all of the the different makeup bags. She said that she wanted me to help her pick out a new bag for Kim. (cue the evil laugh sound track) I found the ugliest bag that was there and said that Kim would love this one. Mom questioned me, but we bought it. I thought that I was pretty clever. But the joke was on me.

See, Mom wasn't buying a makeup bag for Kim, she was buying one for me. She was trying to figure out what kind I wanted and used Kim as the decoy. She did a great job of making me believe that it was for Kim.

Can you imagine my surprise on Christmas morning when I discovered the bag in my stuff? I was humiliated, but couldn't let on to it. I was excited that Mom was letting me wear makeup.

Almost every time I see my makeup bag, I smile. It is one of those smiles that is accompanied with a shake of my head and a little laugh. I smile at the memory. I shake my head at my younger self, relieved that I don't act like a 14 year old brat anymore. I laugh at the situation.

So, apologies to Kim are in order. I'm sorry that I was being rude. I'm glad that you weren't stuck with an ugly little makeup bag. I wish that we had been better friends growing up, but I am glad that we are good friends now. Thank you for being a good big sister to me. I love you!

I guess that I could extrapolate a life lesson out of this situation. Always pick out something that you would want to receive? Never believe your mom when she has you pick out a gift for someone else? No, the life lesson is simple. It is: Always be kind to others, even when you don't want to be.

I still think that my makeup bag is ugly, but do you understand why I can't get rid of it?

I love my ugly makeup bag, I really do.