The Things We Take For Granted

Just days before the Coronavirus fears began my refrigerator broke down. I came home from a camping trip to a foul-smelling house and dumped about $400.00 worth of rotten food. I was busy during the week so I planned to eat out and then look for a new refrigerator that weekend. On Friday they announced schools were closed and social distancing began. I decided that it was worth waiting a week until the 'insanity' subsided and the world got back to business as usual and then I would go out to find a refrigerator. A week later I couldn't even get a delivery and installation of a brand new refrigerator. I decided to order a mini-fridge to tide me over for another week or two until, really this time, the panic subsided and we got back to business. After nearly three weeks living in a cooler and a mini-fridge and finally coming to grips with reality I ordered a new refrigerator that could be delivered to my door by not brought inside my house. I managed to drag it in by myself and install it, not exactly a technical challenge but I hope the water line isn't leaking.

I took my refrigerator for granted. I took the ability to have someone else deliver and install it for granted. When I open my refrigerator full of food I don't take that for granted any longer. I see my refrigerator as security and safety. It's something that not everyone has.

It seems a bit ridiculous to put so much thought into a refrigerator, I've had one in my life almost every day since the day I was born. Soon I'm sure I will go back to seeing the refrigerator as a tool that keeps my food cold while I'm waiting to eat it. On some level, though, somewhere in the back of my mind I'll always see it as a symbol of my good fortune . . . and a reminder to do something for so many who don't have that same good fortune.