new microwave

You know you're getting over the hill when a word like "microwave" sends you down memory lane.

Cliff has been telling me in recent months that our old microwave oven was slowing down. For instance, when he'd make a bag of popcorn, some of it would burn before it all got done. Once he brought it to my attention, I realized that yes, my Healthy Choice meals were taking almost twice as much cooking time as recommended on the box.

I remember my first microwave oven. I was one of the last people in our circle to get one, it seems. I was working at Whitaker Cable then, and heard my co-workers singing the praises of this new, modern convenience. I figured that, although I couldn't afford one outright, I could manage a monthly payment at Sears. As I recall, we paid just under $400 for our Amana Microwave. A lot of money, back then, for sure.

We had two teenagers at home, and we managed to keep that microwave busy.

It was still working just fine when grandchildren began to appear on the scene, but the door became faulty, which I had heard might not be the best thing for our health.

So when my mom remarried and ended up with two of the things, she offered us one.

That's the one we've been using for the past few years.

My daughter recently bought a new microwave at Walmart; she was talking about prices of various ones, and good grief... they're dirt cheap now, most models less than $100!

So I got myself a new one last Saturday. The one in the picture.


When I make popcorn in my ancient plastic microwave popcorn popper now, it only takes two minutes instead of five. This oven even has the spin-around carrousel in the bottom; we've never had that before.

Life is good.