LIFE AS IT IS

G rowing up, a nicely folded-ironed handkerchief was one of the things I carried to school daily. I always saw my mother carry one in her purse, too. Those were the days when we lived simple lives. Our lives might have been simple, but it was because of the simple ways of living that we used to leave fewer carbon footprints in the environment.   Then times changed, I grew up, and hankies were replaced by disposable tissues. However, I have recently picked up handkerchief for use again. I knew I had one from my wedding day; it was bought because my mother wanted me to carry an embroidered hankie in my wedding purse. I rummaged around old things one Friday morning, and voila! it was there.  Hankies are things from yesteryears. As a result, you do not find them at stores any more. I looked up online and found some vintage hankies whose prices were as high as $20 a piece. Then I came across an American fashion label for women that was selling a set of four handkerchiefs for a w...