We
try to take a frugal, practical path in life. If something can be repaired,
refurbished, or refinished it remains in our household. We don’t ditch
something because it’s no longer “in style”. My kitchen cabinets went out of
fashion twenty years ago, and I’ll never paint them as is the trend. Appliances
like our fridge and dishwasher have been repaired first before we resort to
replacing them. My stove top and oven date back to 1993 because we replace
elements when they burn out. Other furnishings, purchased during the first
years of our marriage, get switched from room to room. My son’s baby rocker
gets treated with Murphey’s oil and now sits in the family room. Most of the
time my attention skips over the older pieces. They form a comfortable,
familiar background. Occasionally, I’ll zero in on something and think, “How
old is that crockpot?” or “Those lamps have ancient wiring.” Replacing these
items shift onto my “To Do List”.
A
few weeks ago, our alarm clock, the one EVERYONE has, began gaining time. We
swapped out the batteries, reset everything, and set it back down into the
background of our routines. This morning, the 7:15 alarm sounded. I punched
snooze and took my morning medications. Over the last nine months, I’ve added
putting on my watch as I head into the bathroom. This morning, when I checked
for the outside temperature, I noted it was only 6:30, not 7:15! Our clock
gained time again.
We
won’t replace the clock. Like everyone else, we’ll set our phones with an alarm.
I do feel a little sad as this piece was a wedding gift. Normally, I get rid of
things break, but I think I’ll find a place to store it, even if it’s broken.
Copyright 2025 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
