I know (and am certainly glad) that appliances are built to last a long time. thank goodness. who could afford to replace washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves and refrigerators as often as we replace cars or cell phones? i know i certainly couldn't.
but my refrigerator is 15 years old. i think that is probably about replacement time or very near it. but i can't replace it. not only because i simply can't afford such an expense at this time. but i don't wanna replace it.
it was a wedding gift from a very dear friend who has long since gone. unfortunately she died a couple of years after my wedding, she was my maid of honor. Gail. I miss her. she really "got" me. actually we "got" each other. unfortunately the marriage has since ended too. but that's another story.
we purchased it from a local Lowe's that use to be on my way home. she and i shopped for it inquired of the salesman about all the ins and outs of this particular model and brand for you see it' s not a big name brand like whirlpool or Frigidaire no my refrigerator is a holladay.
what we learned as we quizzed the salesman was that this brand was actually a lower cost, economical brand produced by a large well known manufacturer: Frigidaire and it was, according to the salesman, as good a quality as any of their well known brand name refrigerators. turns out he wasn't lying. it's been a real champ.
it only had to move twice (including the trip from the store) since it was purchased. i'm sure that helped. however, it does has a few aging characteristic quirks. sometimes when you close the door, it somehow eases open. sometimes it's just a hair, but sometimes it's as if you never shut it at all.
i've cringed a couple of times thinking about the coming month's utility bill because i've come home from an 8+ hour work day to find it standing ajar. needless to say i've had a few jugs of milk and some leftovers to go bad before their time because of this gate keeping problem
i think i know the reason. it seems like this actually occurred when it was relatively new too. if memory serves me right it has some pedestal type levelers underneath and when it is not level the door will not shut properly. i wonder if it because the house is aging and settling as well. or maybe it's the change of season but strange door behavior comes in fits and spells.
it does not happen all the time. in fact once when it was going through one of these periods i realized i had some things sitting on top (my overflowing spices that wouldn't fit on the spice rack). a huge heavy glass jar filled with my favorite cereal--cheerios, a nice ceramic bowel with beautiful clusters of grapes (grapes--my kitch motif) that my mom gave me--filled with plastic fruit. i guess i would get a little wobbly too, if i had all that on my head.
i think i won't get rid of it just yet. i'll call my son or brother over to try and get the levels readjusted. i'm not ready to buy another refrigerator. not ready to toss that memory of me and Gail's shopping experience aside. sure i know the memory of her lives on in my head and heart. but still i kinda like having something tangible of her to hold on to.
sooo...that's really
Why I won't get rid of my refrigerator.
