Issue date: 12/8/04 Section: Opinion

I finally had to do it. I had to break down and get a new wallet. Some of you might not understand why this may be such a big deal. Some kids I know buy a new wallet every year or just buy better ones when they see them while browsing through Filenes.

This wallet was different though. This was my first real wallet.

I had bought this wallet at Newbury Comics, there was a chain attached to it and I was in 4th grade attending Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Revere. This wallet was the first sign of my identity. I loved that damn thing.

As I graduated elementary school and headed off to Middle School, my wallet came with me. As my group of friends begun to change, my wallet stayed constant. It was always there in my back pocket. Sure it was starting to wear a bit but I stuck with it.

I then graduated on to high school. My wallet was with me when I broke my leg freshman year. It was with me when I lost the race for Class Vice President my sophomore year.

It was there when my mock trial team beat our rival Nazareth Academy in the Mass Bar tournament my junior year. It was with me when I grabbed that Diploma and sat down knowing I had survived high school.

My wallet has even made it with me to my college years. It made the journey with me through Suffolk Orientation. It was with me when I stepped through the Journal Office doors for the first time.

My wallet tagged along when I was on the other side of Orientation as leader. It went with me when drove to New Hampshire or Rhode Island for various concerts and parties.

But my September, I was starting to see the wear and tear on my wallet. It went from being nicely worn in, to being just plain worn out. I knew the end was near.

I didn't want to part with my wallet. It had been through so much with me, my first kiss, my numerous heartbreaks, my rare triumphant, the 2003 ALCS and more importantly the 2004 ALCS and World Series.

The damn thing was ripped to shreds though so I broke down and went wallet shopping. I was looking for something simple, yet elegant. It needed to have a chain attached to it, because I had lost my original chain long, long ago.

This was no easy task. I first went to the Liberty Tree Mall, no luck, even with one of the greatest girls alive, Cheryl Stella, by my side.

How was I ever going to find a suitable replacement? I decided to return to where I had bought the original all those years ago, Newbury Comics in Saugus. I walked towards the wallet section and saw it. The exact same type of wallet I had bought all those years ago. I bought it and was on my way.

I made the switch at my house. It was a big moment. I took my new wallet, attacked the chain to my belt and slide it into my back pocket for the first time. It felt good.

I took my old wallet and put it to rest. I cut a long strip of worn out leather form my old wallet and fastened it around my wrist. That wallet had been with me for nine years. It grew up with me. I just couldn't let it totally go and hopefully I never will.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools