My mother loves to recount the tale of how she bowled the best game of her life the night before I was born. Clearly, she made some interesting choices back then (like the whiskey sour she admitted to enjoying throughout her pregnancy—let’s save that for another time). I still possess the “Most Improved Bowler” trophy she earned, complete with a four-inch marble base and a silver figurine of a stylish lady in a skirt, mid-bowl.
As fate would have it, the week I entered the world also marked the invention of the microwave, which my mom miraculously won. It was a colossal beast—three feet long and two feet wide. It roared loudly, and its sheer power would dim the lights when in use. This hulking piece of countertop technology stayed in our home until 2000 when my sister finally replaced it, and I was 27 at the time.
Appliances aren’t meant to last that long, making its presence during my formative years somewhat terrifying. While I’d love to attribute my questionable decision-making to my forehead resting against it as I watched my food cook, I can’t blame it entirely—my sister did the same, and she’s now a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. So much for that excuse!
Of course, we tried to convince her to upgrade, but my mother is quite stubborn. She absolutely refused to let go of that old microwave. My sister had to sneak it out, and I’m pretty sure my mom shed tears—not of joy—when she first saw its shiny digital replacement. Picture a nine-year-old losing a beloved pet only to be handed a bunny instead. That was the look on my mother’s face.
The microwave wasn’t the only relic in our home. Our TV was a legend in its own right. Remember when electronics were large pieces of furniture? Instead of being sleek and compact, our TV sat a mere five inches from the ground on a swivel base, housed in a bulky wooden cabinet. We got it in 1978 when we moved to California, and my mom didn’t part with it until we refused to pack it for her move to Florida in 2003. The remote had only one functional button—the channel up button. Imagine having to scroll through 52 channels just to find the one you wanted. Annoying, right? But not annoying enough to make us get off the couch!
Even now, my mother reminisces about that TV. After we finally persuaded her to leave it behind, she gifted it to a tenant. Guess what? He still has it and loves it! It really did have a fantastic picture and an unusual charm, allowing you to swivel it for viewing in different rooms.
I held onto my first Mac PowerBook far longer than necessary. A 27-year-old microwave and a nine-year-old computer are practically the same thing. I didn’t turn it off for three years for fear it wouldn’t restart. And I avoided software updates like the plague, convinced Apple was out to sabotage me. Unplugging it meant a five-minute struggle with the power cord. Why did I wait so long to buy a new one? Clearly, it’s in my genes to squeeze every last bit of life out of anything plugged in.
In 2012, I still owned a massive, outdated Sony 32-inch box TV that my mom gifted me in 1998. Friends teased me mercilessly about it. One day, my husband surprised me with a flat-screen. Sure, the picture was crisp, but it felt too real—everyone looked worn out. That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t shake the image of my old TV sitting sadly in the corner. I found myself thinking, “Why should I let go of it?”
However, in that sleepless moment, I realized something profound about my mother—and myself. A new flat screen might be superior in every aspect, but it’s not just about the object; it’s about the memories and the comfort it brings. Aging is tough, and letting go of those familiar tokens from our past feels like losing a piece of ourselves.
In the end, my husband’s flat screen found a home in his office, while my cherished TV remained in the heart of our home until I was finally ready to bid it farewell.
They truly don’t make things like that anymore.
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Summary
This piece reflects on the author’s journey of becoming more like her mother, showcasing nostalgic memories tied to outdated appliances that evoke emotions and life lessons about aging, attachment, and letting go.