On April 6, 2010, I started my blog Confessions of a Purse Carrier on Blogger. In my very first post I wrote:
Gilliams Writers Group
So...I have this theory of sorts. There are several women walking around earth (or some other strange place) suffering from "The Purse Carrying Syndrome." Let me explain: In every group of girlfriends there is always at least one girl hit with the line: "Hey girl, can you hold my purse?" This occurs mostly in social settings (i.e. clubs, lounges, and bars).
"Hi, my name is Cyn and I suffer from Purse Carrier Syndrome." I am her and she is me. I guess this started back in high school at the dances. I had a crush on Kwasi (aaaah, memories), but my girls were always one step ahead of me and one lip gloss shade prettier (or so I thought). I’ve carried my friends’ purses for over 13 years. Big purses, little purses, medium purses. Gucci, Louis, and Fendi (all knockoffs, of course). I’ve carried the "I’m pregnant but can’t tell my mom" purse, the "I’m cheating on my boyfriend" purse, the "My baby daddy ain’t shit but I still love him" purse, and the "I’m going to commit suicide" purse. But here’s the thing: I don’t want to be that girl anymore. I love my friends, but I want to live with them, not through them. This blog will document my journey toward success, love, and an amazing life. Letting go of my friends’ baggage so I can start to deal with my own. Welcome to Confessions of a Purse Carrier. Enjoy!
And enjoy I did.
For 15 years, I’ve written everything from short stories to bold societal critiques to vulnerable self-reflections. Some months I posted like a machine and other months I disappeared into the ether. But this space was mine, and I leaned on it when I needed it most. Along the way, people told me a post spoke to them deeply, laughed at my sometimes crass yet loopy banter, and one time, a publisher even reached out encouraging me to write a book. It’s been a wild, beautiful ride.
Now, I’ve decided to spread Confessions of a Purse Carrier over to Substack. I love reading over there and engaging with other creatives, so it feels like a natural next step. Don’t worry, Blogger isn’t going anywhere, I’ll be publishing on both. As soon as I figure out auto-crossposting, you ain’t gonna be able to tell me nothin’, baby! For now, it’s a good old copy-paste situation. Me, Blogger, and Substack in a nice little poly relationship.
If you’re reading this on Blogger, come follow me on Substack.
If you’re reading this on Substack, take a stroll through my Blogger archives for the full, eclectic portfolio.
Ok, that’s it. Love y’all…stay tuned.
