We live in a throw away society. I am well aware of this fact because I am as guilty of it as anyone. If something breaks, oftentimes, instead of trying to locate the problem and fix it, I simply buy a new one and toss out the old.
There are always exceptions to this rule — anything large and expensive comes to mind like a vehicle or electronic device; however, even when one pays to have this item fixed, it is not unusual to be thinking about an upgrade. I am in the habit of upgrading to the next new thing that comes along in a few months/years, setting aside my old outdated device like it was nothing.
I’m not really sure when this mindset became my way of thinking. I know it certainly didn’t come from my grandparents. Grandpa Rodgers was always tinkering on something, trying to get as much out it as possible. He had old lawnmower parts strewn around his garage and used a constantly repaired/rebuilt Snapper mower on his lawn. If something broke, he usually knew where to get the parts and how to fix it.
My sister and I always loved helping him take things apart, and then helped him put them back together, not ever really knowing what he did to fix it. Grandpa was more of a doer than a teacher — his lack of hearing definitely made communicating difficult. He still was patient enough to let his granddaughters help.
I recently considered tossing a perfectly good shirt because it had a hole in one of the arm seams. I know how to sew, and it could be easily fixed. As tossing it crossed my mind, I mentally chastised myself for being lazy and then tracked down my sewing kit.
As I was preparing to stitch the shirt, an odd memory hit me. I can’t remember how old I was, but I was playing with a stuffed bear clad in a green dress. It was one of my favorite toys because green was and still is my favorite color. Through years of playing with the bear, its arm slowly came loose from its stitching and was hanging by a thread.
I happened to be at my grandparents’ house when I made the discovery, and I took the bear to my Grandma Rodgers upset over the “injured” arm. She simply smiled at me and took the bear saying she could fix her right up. She went to her cupboard where she kept her supplies and opened her sewing caddy. She had thread of all different shades, and she found just the right shade to match the bear.
Her steady hand threaded the needle, and soon she began “operating” on the bear’s arm. Once she tied the stitch closed and cut the excess thread, she presented the bear to me “good as new.” I smiled and hugged her, thanking her for fixing my bear and then bounced out of the room back to play time. I still have that bear, and while the stitches she made have started to show, the arm has stayed in place.
I am thankful the bear with the green dress was fixed and not thrown away in favor of one of the many other stuffed animals that I acquired later. What gave me such joy as a child, brings back a smile whenever I see it — giving me flashes of grandma stooped over the small bear while she worked her magic on it.
Undoubtedly, something will break in the future, it’s just the way things go. However, I will try to do what my grandparents taught me and make more of an effort in the future to try to fix things before tossing it and buying something new.
Contact Pam Rodgers at
prodgers@newtondailynews.com