‘old things’ that made your life comfortable

[wesbed]

There are certain ‘old things’ that have made my life more comfortable and familiar through the years.

I have a digital radio/alarm clock that my parents purchased as a birthday gift in 1976. It was a time when the digital alarm clocks weren’t necessarily yet the norm. I’ve been using the clock since my birthday in 1976. The clock has relocated six times with me (including a three-year stint in England when my Dad was in the Air Force). The alarm, from said clock, awakened me through all my high school, part-time job, and college years. The same alarm has awakened me each and every day of my life as a full-time working (but not necessarily functioning!) adult.

When I went to bed last Friday night, I set the alarm per my usual habit. The mechanical slider- switch that enables the alarm snapped off in my hand. I decided it was time to retire the old clock and get a new one. While I unplugged the old clock and replaced it with its new counterpart, the memories of the old clock sitting at my bedside, its music putting me to sleep, its alarm waking me up, always there, and always dependable through so many years (since 1976) flashed through my mind.

I realize the old clock is a dumb machine, only a material thing. However, the old clock got me to thinking about how many things in our lives are quietly ‘there’ for us. So much ‘there’ that we take them for granted and don’t miss them till they are gone. Things such as an old alarm clock, an old pair of jeans, an old jazz record, a parent, the person who cuts your hair, the person who knows how to work on your car, and on and on.

Monday (tomorrow) morning will be the first time in my entire life that I will get up to go to work and will not be awakened by the old alarm clock, but with the new alarm clock sitting in its place.

Rest in peace, old friend.

Edited December 1, 2003 by wesbed

[connoisseur series500]

Nice story Wesbed.

Great topic idea too, I think.

I have a tendency to wear clothes until the degenerate into rags.

My old bedroom furniture I had as a kid is now in my son's room. Man, that's special to me in some loony way.

I like my old chess sets and stuff even though they get beat up a bit from blitz games and repeated games.

I've got an old hardbound dictionary that is in tatters, but I won't let it go. Many cool words are underlined.

I drive cars until they are ready for the junk heap.

I stick with the old wife, and all my old friends...you guys get the idea.

Edited December 1, 2003 by connoisseur series500

[Jazz]

I stick with the old wife

I sure hope she doesn't catch word of this post!! In response to a thread about old things that make your life comfortable, no less!!

[connoisseur series500]

After many years, she's used to my nonsense. (For the record, she's a year younger than me and has definitely kept her looks--unlike me.)

Edited December 1, 2003 by connoisseur series500

[Ed S]

I have an old Kay guitar that's been hanging around since I was a kid. Single "toaster style" pickup, tobacco sunburst finish. It was bought for me around 1964 - not sure if it was new or used. Even though I had not played the guitar since I got frustrated and quit at about age 13/14 - that would be around 1970 - this thing has been managing to find its way wherever I've moved. Mind you, over the years I lost the pickguard, the bridge, the tail piece and of course the strings. It was pretty much a shell. This things been in the attic, the basement, the crawlspace, somewhere in every junk pile I've ever had in the nether regions of my various domiciles over the years.

Last year, I decided to pick up a jazz guitar and amp and start practicing. I picked up what I think is a decent beginner guitar and started playing around. About a week after I got my new guitar, I walked over to the old Kay, picked it up, thought "well I don't need this piece of garbage anymore" and walked it out to the trash, as it was garbage day. My wife - who swore at that silly thing as many times as she tripped over it was glad to see it go - especially since I had just picked up a new guitar and have been known to be somewhat of a pack rat.

Our garbage pickup is usually done by 8 AM as we're at the beginning of the route. I went out for a few hours, came back and there it still was - my garbage with the old Kay still sitting there. I started to have second thoughts and got a little sentimental. It was like I was seeing a part of my life getting tossed into the garbage. So I figured - what the hell - I'll see if I can put some strings on it and let my boys have at it. At least they wouldn't damage my new guitar. So while my wife rolled her eyes, I marched out to the trash and rescued my old friend.

First I cleaned it up. Turns out the original lacquer finish held up well over the years. I bagged a nice tailpiece and bridge off of ebay, threw some flatwounds on it and voila - a guitar for my kids. Problem is when I plugged it in, it sounded like crap - but who cares as it was just for my boys anyways.

At any rate, I kept intermittently checking ebay and eventually came up with an original pickguard. Very nice. About a month ago, I bagged an original "toaster style" Kay pickup. I installed it and the thing sounds like a million bucks. Beautiful rich, deep tone. I very glad the garbage pick up was late that day. Unfortunately, my boys are now out one guitar.

Edited December 1, 2003 by Ed Swinnich

[connoisseur series500]

Great story that brings tears to my eyes, Ed. We live in a throwaway culture in throwaway times. Most of the stuff we throw away would be valued in other cultures.

[AfricaBrass]

That is a great story, Ed!

I'm glad the garbage men were late that day.

I have my first guitar still, but it's in pieces. At one point I sanded down the body and reshaped the headstock. I've kept the pieces because I hope to put it back together someday. My wife asked me about this box of crap (as she calls it), but I could never get rid of it. Heck, I didn't each lunch for 3 months, so I could save for that guitar.

[Bright Moments]

So much ‘there’ that we take them for granted and don’t miss them till they are gone.

You might find another one on ebay. . . .