Oh, gosh, YES, Beck!!
When it came time for my parents to start going door-to-door, my mom (wanting to fit in, of course) asked where she could buy those leather service bags that were all the rage in the 60s and 70s. I believe they were mail-order things, but it made her so upset when the sisters WOULD NOT tell her how she could get one of her own. It was like it was a privilege of belonging to the clique of elders' wives.
My mom is quite clever with a sewing machine though, and out-did them. She cut up some grey lederhosen (don't ask!!) and using the nice grey suede-leather, she made her own book bag. It was one-of-a-kind, and the sisters who had their frumpy-looking, hard, brown leather book bags were quite annoyed that my mom's was so "stylish"!! LOL
I remember up until about 8 years ago, whenever I bought a new purse, the question "will this work in service too?" would cross my mind. Nowadays, my purse must hold a comb, my wallet and my cell phone. No more Watchtowers and Awake!s stogged in my purse, in hopes of that informal witnessing opportunity.
Farkel:
I always knew you had a big one.
Love, Scully
UADNA-C (Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America-Canada)