Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Newbie Euphoria


I remember as a child when my Mom would get something new for the house. Oh, how she would light up. New pots and pans, new dish towels, a new bathroom curtain. And the list went on and on.

I'd often wonder why these things brought her such joy. Wouldn't she rather something like a brand new car? Surely that blue station wagon wasn't going to make another 100,000 miles.

Mom was an avid collector of S&H Greenstamps (these were very popular back in the day). I don't actually remember how or where these stamps came from. I just knew they had similar rules to that of Gremlins: 1) Don't get them wet, and 2)Watch out, they multiple like rabbits! For a few years in the 1970's I was totally convinced that my mother had purchased me with S&H Greenstamps. They were everywhere! And because they were in such abundance in my home, she was able to purchase me a brother and a sister as well.

Once the 1970's disappeared, so did S&H Greenstamps (or at least their popularity did). The new way to earn rewards was to jack up your credit card to 6 figures. You then might earn enough for a plane ticket that you could only use a few days a year, to go to only a few places, for only a few days with less than a few people. (Makes you want to pull that plastic out, now doesn't it?)

At the young age of 34, I finally understand what my mom was experiencing way back then. I returned from my Target Trip to find the Sears truck parked in front of my home. My new washer and dryer had arrived. It was all too exciting. I was suffering from Newbie Euphoria.

I entered my home only to find a look of disgust on my husbands face.

"What was going on," I wondered. Did they bring the wrong model? The wrong color? The wrong appliance?

"The dryer doesn't get hot," Hubby said.

Well, now that's different, I thought. These new front loaders are quite miraculous. Somehow in my mind I figured anything that spung around at 100 mph long enough would eventually dry. "Heat? We don't need no stinking heat!" Maybe it's a green dryer. A clothesline wrapped in a pretty box.

Anyway, Sears will again be here tomorrow....with another new dryer. It's unlikely that I'll experience another case of Newbie Euphoria. Although I only owned that heatless dryer for less than 24 hours; it seems like it's been here for years. It tried it's best, but just couldn't keep up.

That's me at the window waving. Goodbye old(new) friend, Goodbye.

19 comments:

Jamie said...

Congrats on your new appliances....When we had our new floors put in the Newbie Euphoria went away after day 1 and the guy was here for 3 days. So I feel ya. :)

Anonymous said...

I am so glad the 70s left, but so sad about the stamps! Congrats on your new washer and dryer. A mom without a dryer? What a travesty! We went without one for about 2 weeks last year. UGH! I hope you have that new feeling today!

Kathy B! said...

What a bummer. You only get that newbie euphoria on a handful of occasions. Sorry you got your buzz killed!

Margaret said...

I get Newbie Euphoria over the smallest things. It doesn't take much to please me. Although I could use (want) a new washer and dryer.

Lani said...

Seriously, I would love a nice HE washer and dryer.. may more than new clothes.. sigh..
stopping by from sits!

I'm hosting a Blog For A Cure blog party next week at www.whoknewreviews.blogspot.com. Please stop by if you get a chance!

Lora said...

Ah Newbie Euphoria. Right now I have it over my new phone...

Visiting you from SITS--have a great day!

Leslie said...

Love that newbie euphoria feeling...

Happy VGNO, hope you have a great weekend

Susan Campbell Cross said...

Happy VGNO--congrats on your new dryer (the one that works that's coming tomorrow!!!). I love getting new stuff, BUT...sometimes if it's something that is going to come with a phone book sized manual that involves me either assembling something, or learning how to use something complicated and technological, then I would rather stick to the old thing (as long as it still works ok) until I have the time to figure all of the new stuff out. I end up stuck when I get something and then can't use it. Stuck. And frustrated!

Amy said...

I loved licking the pack of a sheet of S&H green stamps and sticking them on the card! Thanks for reminding me of the 60s!!

Happy VGNO! Cheers!

I'm not at any of the identities listed below your comments bar, so pardon me for putting my url at the bottom here.

www.amymusings.com

Lifeofkaylen said...

New appliances are fun!!!

I remember those green stamps when I was growing up! It was always fun thinking about all that we could get with them.

Carolee Hollenback said...

Yay! New "toys". I remember S & H green stamps!

Happy VGNO!

FranticMommy said...

wow...I must be weird. I got Newbie Euphoria the other day when I scored a great pair of new slippers at a garage sale for a buck. I think I need to expand my horizons!

Native American Momma said...

Oh that is too bad that you kinda got jiped of your euphoria moment.
Happy VGNO !

Gladys said...

I remember S&H Green Stamps and pasting them in the books. We got camping gear, waffle irons and beer stiens with them. You got them when you bought gas or groceries.

Does your dryer have that new "steam" feature. That is way cool well, really it's hot but anyway I'm sure it's handy.

Unknown said...

It will just have to be a newbie euphoria do over. Happy VGNO!

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice said...

LOL OMG I totally experience Newbie Euphoria... HA HA HA seriously I think that's so funny. I'm one of those lamos that EVERYTHING new puts me on cloud nine for like at least a day...
even cleaning supplies

Anonymous said...

Uh huh. Funny how life changes and things like new appliances make us happy!

flavoredmom said...

hmmmm...seems you're too young to remember those green stamps. I'm worreied that you've been brainwashed to believe you're excited about appliances - unless of course you forgot to mention that they come with someone to use them for you. :) Happy belated VGNO.

Halle@HouseCapated said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I'm 33 and I totally remember Greenstamps from when I was a little girl! I remember my grandma getting the stamps from the cashier at Piggly Wiggly then taking them home and licking and pasting strips of them into a Greenstamps book! Wow, you took me back...thank you!