By Taffi -The Budget Queen
Owner & Administrator-www.TheBudgetQueen.com
We get so used to the convenience of modern technology that sometimes we feel that if we ever lost any of those conveniences we would cease to function. Well, of course, that is certainly not true-but you never know till you have to try. Occasionally, circumstances will rob us of what we deem pertinent in our lives-the cell phone tower goes out for an hour and we can’t deal, when in actuality all we missed out on was someone texting back “yeah”.
We will survive.
Then, there are the times when you want to watch a movie on your television and you put a movie into the Netflix cue and it doesn’t update instantly, then you have to go back and redo it and it takes 60 whole seconds. I mean, why can’t it work right the first time, especially when you’ve got a two hour movie to watch. Time’s-a-wastin’! Geez!
What about when your receipt doesn’t print at the gas tank…and you have to actually walk inside the store to get it? Wow, that really puts a dent in my day. After all, I need that receipt to adorn my console and be there for that time next week when I'll proceed to throw it away.
So I thought that I would never be able to live without a microwave…well, it’s been three months and I’m still kickin’. Good thing I’ve been taking my vitamins.
Once upon a time, I sold my house, and all of the appliances were included in the deal. But that was perfectly fine because we were going to be in a hotel for awhile waiting on our other house to be ready, and the hotel had a microwave. Never fear, I had a microwave replacement plan in place. I would be buying a microwave when we got into the new house because we were going to redo the kitchen anyway. Well, now we are in the new house and we are renovating, but very conservatively because we want to fund everything with cash, so we are holding off on the kitchen for awhile so that we can get exactly what we want without settling for a “this will do for now” situation.
There is a microwave in this house, but it does not work in the way that microwaves normally do. In fact, it is so ancient that I truly believe deep down in my heart that it was a concept microwave-you know, the ones they had before there were real microwaves that actually microwaved food.
Yes, I’m sure....I just know by looking.
Which brings us to another point…why won’t I just buy a cheap microwave? I can always buy a nicer microwave once we know what will work in the new kitchen. Right? Ha! I refuse to do it, because it’s a waste of money. I could easily afford one, but it’s the principle of the matter. Waste not, want not.
In actuality, it has served greater purposes in my daily life. Since it is positioned below the wall oven, and because the microwave door opens like an oven door, it is quite novel indeed. My preschooler has noted this fact and used the microwave in glorious ways: a platform for stuffed animals that were apparently in great need of jumping lessons, a snack service and drink service, a vending machine simulator, a toy and shoe storage facility…and that’s just a glimpse into its versatility.
I have a feeling its entire power has yet to be harnessed.
So, I’d like to introduce to you to my new microwave-less self. I cook on the stove a little more, I keep my coffee pot on warm, and I plan ahead a little more…but I do not mourn the loss of my convenient friend. Sometimes you just get used to things and become conditioned, like the way we’ve become conditioned with all of our modern conveniences which lead to instant gratification.
Back in the day when fire was the only way to get a hot meal-no one was the wiser. So challenge yourself next time you are faced with a situation such as mine. You just might find that things you couldn’t live without become things you’ll never miss at all.
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