Riding the 'micro'wave
- Laura Moore: Housebroken
- February 11, 2025
- 439
It was my firm though untested belief as a young wife that when we bought a new appliance, it would last at least 15 or 20 years. Therefore, it was a shock when one of our appliances died prematurely.
One night our 8-year-old microwave began making thumping noises and stopped working. Unfortunately, this occurred while supper was being prepared. Everything but the broccoli, which I'd planned to steam in the microwave, was ready to be served. Then I remembered broccoli could be cooked in a pot on the stove, “the old-fashioned
way,” so the broccoli crisis was averted.
The next day Taller Half hauled our poor, nonworking microwave to the appliance store to have it checked and hopefully fixed. The resulting diagnosis informed us there was a short in a minor part, and the prognosis was expensive. Buying a new microwave would be cheaper than repairing the old one.
It was amazing how dependent we had become on that appliance in just eight years. When we first bought it, we grown-ups were a little intimidated by it, but our children weren’t. Humans born after the 1960s come into the world with a special gene making them electronically and technologically adept. They take to things like microwaves, VCRs and computers like ducks to water.
With our offspring's patronizing guidance, we eventually mastered the mysteries of our new, much more sophisticated microwave, and we were hooked.
We have never become sophisticated “microwavites” but we have become very proficient with the basics. To be honest, that was all we aspired to. We cooked vegetables, reheated coffee leftovers, melted butter and, of course, popped popcorn.
Our offspring have suggested we might get around to reading the instruction book that came with the new microwave and learn how much more it can do. I'm sure Taller Half will enjoy that.