By Gina Croci

"Excuse me, is that your purse ?" Ladies, what are you thinking?

This past week I have been to Target, Michael's, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Big Lots, just to mention a few of my holiday shopping trips. Three to four times at each store I came upon an unattended shopping cart with a purse sitting in it.

Sometimes the purse was so loaded with stuff, it was open with a wallet in plain view! 

Ladies, do you get where I am going here? I could have easily taken your purse or better yet, just the exposed wallet and been long gone before you would have had any idea. But, I am not one of those people. Instead I have found you, usually a half an aisle away in a shopping trance, and asked "Excuse me, is that your purse?" and have taken a moment to explain why leaving it in the cart is not a good idea. I always get a "Thank you," or "I never thought of that" or "I wasn't thinking" or "Oh, my god!" 

I also have noticed this seems to be more prevalent in women of a "certain age."

I don't see teenagers lugging their life belongings in a purse that is too heavy to carry. Trust me, you don't need that photo album of your grandkids, your make-up kit or phone book when you are going shopping. You want a purse that stays securely on your shoulder or crossed over your chest and is on you while you are shopping. Hey, I care.

Have a safe and happy holiday!