Farewell to a Fridge, Or: Is It Weird to Become Attached to an Appliance?

Farewell old fridge, and thanks for your service!

I have to admit: My heart sank when the delivery guys carried out our old fridge. After serving us faithfully for 24 years, its compressor gave out last month. When we called the GE repairman, he advised us that he could not obtain replacement parts.

“Get a new one,” he said, “twenty-four years is amazing for an appliance.”

Indeed it is. We had felt the dread of having to give it up once before when we shelled out a fair amount of money to hav...