Skip to main content

Jumping to Conclusions

I was not happy, to say the least. My wife's words devastated me. What could she possibly mean? Was she trying to be hurtful or did she actually believe the words she was letting spill forth from her mouth?

We may need to get a new alarm clock.

I know, I know. I should have warned you so you could put the kids in another room to protect them from such filth. I'm sure you are feeling a bit woozy as I did when she uttered that despicable phrase.

I gently reminded her that this alarm clock had been with me since August of 1987. That was the summer my dad decided that my sister and I were old enough to be getting ourselves up in time for school. Here's a picture...

But I followed my wife, presumed guilty until proven otherwise, back to our bedroom to see what was wrong with this alarm clock. Sure enough, the numbers were not showing. I had a letter half-written to General Electric. Did this clock have a warranty? Would they be willing to replace it? Did anyone still believe in goo old-fashioned ethics like value and hard work? When we put our name on a product, that still stands for something, right?

After all, this alarm clock was only 24 years old. Wasn't I supposed to expect to be able to get my dad's money's worth out of this purchase? Or was this some kind of scheme where GE, and companies like her, allowed you to get only some use out of their products before having to spend more hard-earned cash on replacement products?

Where was the fairness in all of this? Will the hypocrisy never end?

Unwilling to give up, but still needing to be woken up the next morning, I started checking for other possible reasons why this alarm clock was no longer trustworthy. And that's when I discovered that the extension cord to which the alarm clock was plugged in was itself not plugged into the wall.

I plugged it in and those friendly red lights which I have come to cherish once again came on. Those lights which have told me innumerable times that sleep is no longer allowed for that day shone bright once more.

So, General Electric, I apologize for assuming the worst. And I thank you for restoring my trust in your products.

To my wife, we may one day look back and laugh at this moment. But it will not be soon. Oh no, it will not be soon.
Labels:

Comments

Rob in Texas said…
I totally have this same alarm clock. I have had it since I was in elementary school and I am now 30. This is by far the best electronic device I own. The countless times I've slammed my hand down on the snooze button and it just keeps on going. I would be completely devastated if I had to replace it. Just remember, you are not the only one out there who still uses and loves this alarm clock.
January 4, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Rick Nier said…
Ha! That is awesome! It's good not to be alone.

Thanks for stopping by my site. Stop by anytime...
January 4, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Accountable

I recently officiated a wedding. The ceremony was simple, lovely, and ended with another couple professing to keep the covenant of marriage. But it all started with a clarification...from me. At our first premarital counseling session, as I have done with every couple I have agreed to marry, I clarified a couple of matters. First, I officiate Christian weddings, where both spouses-to-be are professing Christians. I firmly believe that marriage is difficult enough, without adding disagreements about God into the mix. Second, as a minister of Jesus Christ, I believe the pastor’s role in a wedding is to represent the blessing of God on that union. So we have several sessions of premarital counseling where we discuss married life. It’s not that I have this imaginary card in my head, with a picture of me on the front and my stats on the back. (You know, like a baseball card.) Ok, I do picture cards. Pastor cards! And being a competitive guy, I want my stats to look good. The number of coupl...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Facebook Maybe

Granted, I'm a pastor. I have Type-A tendencies. Ok, my tendencies border on freakish OCD behavior patterns, but... Few things bother me more than the Facebook 'maybe'. I suppose I could go on and on about the grey areas of our society and the refusal of people to accept absolute standards. I could discuss the great need of people to accept that what is wrong for one person is likely wrong for everyone. I should certainly be concerned about mentioning that someone might have sin in their life. But I don't believe the Facebook 'maybe' is quite sin. Perhaps if I were coming up with new sins, I would add this to the list. But alas... Some might think the Facebook 'maybe' did not exist prior to the Internet, but they would be wrong. When I was in high school and asked a girl out on a date, I would normally be told that if they had no other plans, if nobody else called them, if there was nothing good on television and their hair did not need washing, then per...
5 comments
Read more

But I Wanted It

As I've said before , I'm looking for a new place to do youth ministry. Job searching in itself can be a full time task. Unfortunately, no one is paying me to look for a job. And when you haven't had to find a job in 15 years, the whole experience can feel brand new. And nerve-wracking. And quiet. So very, very quiet. I may spend a few hours here and there sending out my resumes and writing cover letters. But the churches I'm sending my information to have their own timeline. And sometimes that timeline does not involve acknowledging my presence. Which is fine, especially if one of the churches I've applied to is reading this right now. I understand those looking for youth pastors will have their own agenda and their own timeline. But it leaves me sitting here with a deafening quiet around me. I am choosing to walk by faith through these days, picturing God working behind the scenes (always behind the scenes) and holding His voice very still, until He is re...
2 comments
Read more