I JUST had to say good bye to my refrigerator. It has served me and my kitchen very well. Almost 20 years in fact. It was an emotional purchase as I had my first salary as a member of the City Council. It was the biggest paycheck I had ever had. It was a gift also to Joy.
I would earn P2,500 for my teaching load in University of Baguio (UB). A little was also made from my selling newspapers by the UB car park which I managed. I had a two–year-old baby boy. Joy earned much more than I did. She is a CPA working in a commercial bank. She had her own house, I offered for her to move to the basement in my parents place in Itogon, where I grew up.
The refrigerator is such an essential tool to my kitchen needs. This was a Samsung and I will only replace it with the same brand. It conked out on me many times, some parts were replaced then it was ok. The motor died out and a replacement came, it was brand new again. I will never let it go.
The most loved wedding gift I had was a personal refrigerator. It was small and colored brown, perfect for my home. I placed it near my bed. I still needed a bigger one. Time again was when I bought a small place in the south, I needed a refrigerator. I bought a portable one.
This unique kitchen piece that I had purchased would be able to refrigerate anything by either an LPG, propane gas or a vehicle's 12 volts and the normal 110-220 voltage we have at home. In Baguio, we do have 110v.
It travelled with me especially on long trips or camping. It was perfect. The reason why I had to get a pick-up truck or a large SUV. It took some space. It allows food to be brought down to my son in perfect condition.
It was soon replaced by a real refrigerator as my son's needs soon needed some permanency. I found one in like brand new condition and for only P7,000. It was an Australian unit which I purchased in Save on Surplus (SOS) both the portable and this one are from the same place. Apparently the plugs are just reshaped and bent by a plier and "wallah" it works here in the PH.
Of late, signals of my loved ref were starting to show. Water was leaking, the freezer wasn't getting enough coolant to freeze, it also made some squeaking sound like a rat stuck inside and maybe there was, the reason why it died or the both of them. All that worked was the light which was the only new item in it.
I set out to the appliance store to find and get quotations. To my surprise the price and amounts I had in mind were still from the 90's from when I last purchased one. I only checked Samsung. I found one that I liked it was in black and seemed to be wrapped in faux leather, classy.
This was it.
I couldn't remember if I had a stand for it at home, the height was also in question. I asked the salesman for a tape measure. Just to be sure. I asked it be reserved already. I also asked about the delivery and when it could be delivered. Everything settled.
At home, my measurement was short by an inch. Apparently, a permanent stand of an inch was made from the last ref. There was no way we can adjust to this. I returned upset, I really wanted it. Friends asked me to just cut the cabinets by an inch for it to fit instead of the stand. No way, José!
I was relegated to choose some other brand, at least I knew my measurements, and there was one LG. I opined that I still preferred Samsung. The salesman mentioned that there was one on stock but couldn't be displayed. I asked it be brought out, he knew I was there to buy one anyway.
The unit was the exact size I needed, but was in Silver Gray. No black. I will have to make do. At least it wasn't another brand. I was just happy to find one, it was more expensive than the one I wanted, and I had no choice. It just has to fit in like a glove. Since I had the ref for quite some time everything was fitted to it. Never did I realize in the future that it will be replaced.
The delivery date was still the same. All of the food I had was either cooked already or placed in my portable ref. It was the dead end for my loved ref. While taking it out, it looked like we were taking out a coffin. No kidding.
The new one fits just like the old one. Everyone likes it. It is space and energy efficient. This one even comes with a wine rack. It looks even bigger than the old one, maybe the design is better. It just looks more massive than the old ref.
We had trouble removing and transferring some of the magnets from the old one. Souvenirs collected from travels around the world. That is all I would buy, it was cheap and it reminded me of my travel there. It was also a good talking piece when friends or visitors are in my place. Some however were stuck from time, it just had to be left or destroyed if removed.
The ref today is lighted perfectly with light blue hue, light to the eyes. The temperature can now be set to my own perfect conditions. Space is plenty and very quiet. I just love to open it just because. An alarm would remind me to close it. I just love to plan what to cook just by looking at the inside of the ref. It inspires me for that next creation.