global scorning

my mother's refrigerator--the harvest gold model we grew up getting our orange juice ice pops out of, the one my sister inherited when she took on the house--lasted thirty years. I'm not sure it ever died; quite possibly well-meaning relatives locked eyes over a holiday dinner table and silently agreed to whisper to my brother-in-law as he cleared their plates, "it's time."

my current refrigerator, on the other hand, a stylish stainless steel side-by-side with automatic water and ice dispenser, lasted five years.

as did its cousin, my washing machine. just over five years. two weeks out of warranty, to be exact.

it's possible Sears is out to get me. at any rate, I can say with certainty that I am done with Sears. forever. at least so far as appliances are concerned. which is not to say that any other American brand will fare any better. aren't they all, like publishing companies, owned by the same two or three corporations now? (at least the Maytag repairman is no longer lonely. he's collecting unemployment and working off the books for his son's start-up internet venture.)

at least I know what I am going to do with the disposable income I don't have. replace my 10 year old Honda, god bless her rubber soul? no way. get my peeling house painted? another next year. hope my 15 year old, freon-leaking HVAC system holds up another season? you betcha. go on vacation?

now that's just cruel.