The New Refrigerator

A week ago, our refrigerator died. There were no obvious warning signs, no strange noises. One day it just stopped keeping things cool. To me, this felt too soon but I've been told ten years is about the average life span of refrigerators these days. We scrambled to salvage what we could, filling three coolers. What we couldn't fit in the coolers we cooked. A large lasagna used up the frozen hamburger, the fresh spinach, and much of the cheese. Leftovers were discouraged so we ate like gluttonous kings.

The search for a replacement began immediately. We discussed desired features and began researching consumer reviews and retail options. After realizing that the perfect fridge could only be had if we were willing to endure a five to thirteen week wait, we scrapped most of our data and instead went with a model that could be delivered and installed in three days time. We packed on some extended warranties - a tacit admission of our lack of knowledge about our latest major appliance.

Our old refrigerator was white but not really. To see the white you'd have to look behind the school pictures, artwork, and other miscellaneous papers deemed important. The magnets used to attach these items also held their own unique and varied story. Some items, such as class pictures might get replaced with more recent versions but often both the old and new would coexist together. Our old fridge was kind of a scrapbook page of stuff going on in our family. In that way, the old fridge felt like a part of the family. Like that distant relative that the kids barely know, it held each class photo or art drawing dearly, treating them like the treasures we knew them to be.

I've spent many an afternoon staring into that fridge, looking for just the right snack. There was never any judgement when I grabbed a cheese stick intended for a kid's school lunch. If I was indecisive, it didn't matter. Even though my lingering at the open door meant more work cooling things back down, the fridge waited patiently.

I don't think our new refrigerator is destined to become a member of the family. Its stainless steel doors reject all magnets, as if it is determined to keep some distance between us and it. The water dispenser on the door is a nice feature but it also sends the signal that if you just want ice or water, get it here - don't open the sacred doors.

Speaking of doors, lingering with them open is discouraged. If a door is open for more than 60 seconds, an alarm sounds. This refrigerator expects you to not bother it unless you know what you want. It's like we've hired a crabby kitchen helper. It will do its job and do it well but don't expect it to fawn over your child's latest piece of artwork. It's simply not part of its job description.

I never thought I'd say this but, in some ways, our new refrigerator is too cold.