Refrigerator rocket science

I hope the refrigerator you own lasts forever or at least until you pass from this life to the next. If not, you’ll have to do what we did last week. Refrigerator shopping is not for the weak-minded.
My husband and I are practical. We have a washing machine because we want clean clothes. We have a dryer because I don’t want everyone on our country road to see my big-girl panties hanging on the line. We have a refrigerator because we don’t want our children to drink spoiled milk and get horribly sick and throw up all over the hall carpet because then we would have to replace the carpet. And I could never decide on a color.
I know I say it all the time in this column. But people have gone crazy. Stark ravin’ crazy. A friend recently got a new washing machine. I said, “Oh no! What happened to your old one?” I knew it must have leaked water all over the floor or set the house on fire or injured one of her children. I mean, that’s the only thing that would ever make me shell out the money for a new appliance.
“Nothing’s wrong with the old washing machine, Lisa. I just wanted a new red front-loading washing machine and dryer. And it’s wonderful. Really wonderful.”
I would like to share a word of wisdom with all readers everywhere. A baby is wonderful. A trip to the Grand Canyon is wonderful. A washing machine is a washing machine. If my clothes are clean, I will never replace my $295 washing machine. Ever. For the rest of my life. I mean, after I’m dead and gone, I hope it is washing the clothes of my great-grandchildren.
Shopping for a refrigerator in this current culture of stylish appliances was beyond challenging for me and my practical husband. The salesman was enthusiastic, which made things even worse. “So what kind of refrigerator are we looking for today?”  
My reply was truthful, “Something to keep milk cold.”  
She laughed. “Yes, but what kind of features did you want? Side-by-side? Top freezer? Shelf organizer? Life organizer? Aerodynamic lettuce crisper? Better gas mileage?”
OK. So maybe she didn’t say the part about gas mileage. But it all became a blur. Where were the plain refrigerators that keep milk cold?
She spoke again, “Well, let’s start with color. Most people want these stainless steel models now. They’re very stylish.”
Stylish must be another word for “school cafeteria.” Stainless steel refrigerators remind me of a school cafeteria which reminds me of the year we had chuckwagon sandwiches every Thursday. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to think about chuckwagon sandwiches every morning at 6 when I pour orange juice.
“No, we don’t want stainless steel or white or black. We just want a soothing cream color which matches our counter tops.”
“Oh, that will be almost impossible to find now because most people want stainless steel or black.”
We learned a very important lesson the day we went refrigerator shopping. There are some things worth fighting for. A cream-colored refrigerator without an aerodynamic lettuce crisper is not one of those things.
Every morning I’m now greeted by the appliance version of Darth Vader.  But I have very crisp lettuce. If only I cared.
For more information about Lisa Smartt, visit her website, lisasmartt.com.

Published in The Messenger 5.30.12

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