By Todd Skaggs
So many things in our society push us to upgrade. We are constantly being told that in order to be the best that we need the latest and greatest gizmos. Our computer tells us to get the latest updates. Our phones constantly want us to upgrade.
What about our kitchens? Well, funny you should ask. I’m going to let you in on a secret.
I’m sorry, what’s that? Who am I?
Ah, yes, introductions. I almost forgot. My name is Todd. No, I know, you’re absolutely right, you could have read that from the byline. Fine. Let’s see. I’m a Sagittarius. I don’t really care for walks on the beach, but love a good sunset just about anywhere. I dislike strawberries but love anything that is strawberry flavored. I love bacon of all sorts. I enjoy—you know what? None of that really matters. Just think of me as an impartial observer on this big blue marble we’re all floating around on. From time to time I’ll drop by and leave some words here for you. Hopefully they make you smile and brighten your day a bit. After all, isn’t that what makes it all worth doing?
Good. Great. Now that we sorted that, where was I? Right! Getting the “Latest and Greatest” because that’s what we’re told we need.
Horse apples.
What always happens when you get the latest and greatest? In no time at all you’re sitting there thinking, “Man, they sure don’t make them like they used to!”
When I was a kid, I can remember going over to my grandparents. And before the days of the internet and streaming this-and-that, people actually talked to each other. Lavish dinners were made and stories were shared. And sometimes vacation slides were brought out, but we won’t talk about that. Ever.
At my grandparents’ house, I have one distinct memory from those dinners (besides, of course, the traumatic vacation slides).
The double oven.
My friends, and people I just met, the double oven is a thing of beauty. Two separate ovens with completely independent controls. You can make a turkey in one oven and a that amazing fried-onion-green-bean casserole that appears at nearly every church potluck in the other. If you’re still having problems visualizing this little piece of magic, allow me to illustrate.
Check this out.
How fantastic is that?! That is the original double-oven of my childhood, direct from my grandparents’ house.
And I get to see it every day. I get to use it. If you’re lucky enough to find a home to move into that has one of these beauties, you may want to think twice before ripping it out and dropping in that steel-faced Viking you saw on the interwebs.
Seriously consider working with a company like Appliance Rescue Service and get that beauty in tip-top shape. Not only will you get a quality appliance (I can assure you they truly don’t make them like that anymore), but if you’re lucky like me, you’ll get one that has that wonderful Avocado color from our childhood!
But, Todd—what if I really want something new and shiny?
Look, I’m not going to tell you how to run your kitchen. That’s totally up to you. And I would be a hypocrite if I said that all new things are bad.
As awesome as the double oven of my childhood is, the actual stove that used to sit alongside it was kind of a nightmare. I could have had the burners replaced (and I’m sure my grandparents did once or twice), but in the end, it just wasn’t cutting it.
Enter the glass cooktop!
Now, I’m going to be honest with you, I’m normally a gas-stove kinda guy, but there is something about this cooktop that I really love. It gets up to temp in time flat and is super easy to maintain and service. Plus, it’s sleek and makes me think I’m boiling my water in a tea kettle in space!
Well, yeah. I guess I am a little odd, but you know what? You’ll get used to it.
So what’s the moral of the story here?
Don’t be so quick to get rid of those old things. There’s definitely a happy medium. You can have the old and awesome, and the latest and greatest!
Most of the time, you just need someone who can come in and give the old and awesome some of the TLC it needs.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to go check on the ham that’s in the oven. Or maybe the cake that’s in the other oven!
Until next time my friends, have an awesomesauce day!!
-Todd