Everyday Tools

I learned from Gerry that everyday tools should be good quality, and that it is always a good thing to spend money for tools that we use in our daily life. Although that is what we both say we believe, we do not always practice our own conviction. For instance, we had a small four cup coffee pot that we've had for many years. It has always been inadequate, especially if company is coming. Over the years, it started to perk slower and slower. Still, we hung in there with the slow perking, inadequate coffee maker for probably over a year, if not two! We tried every cleaning option, thinking that is what was slowing it down. It wasn't exactly broken, just slowly giving out. Finally, a couple of months ago, I threw it in the trash and went out and bought a new one, different model. How much better our coffee life is! [I suppose it's a good thing not to throw away your old model too soon, just because it is slowing down.]

Earlier in the week, I was doing a bit of ironing. Ironing is not something I do very often, nor does my iron do the task very well. It occurred to me that I've had that little scrawny iron for over twenty five years, at least. The steam function no longer works; the spray function died long ago. Recently, I noticed that the switch to adjust the temperature was flapping in the breeze. That meant that it had two temperatures. On for hot, and unplugged for cold.

But it wasn't dead yet. It still produced heat. Some of our appliances just seem to die a miserable death!

I threw the iron in the trash and went out and bought a new one. Lo and behold, the steam function actually got rid of wrinkles, especially those in tablecloths that have never come out since I bought them. The spray function made it possible to concentrate on specific trouble spots. And the adjustable switch made it possible to iron a variety of different kinds of fabrics. Ironing suddenly became something that is almost pleasant! I could probably even learn to like it!

Oh, we are very good at repairing broken things quickly. But sometimes I do shake my head in wonder at how long it takes to replace our a poorly functioning appliances. [Maybe it's just empathy.]