An Old Peeler Too Good To Let Go

My mom was born at the time of the Great Depression. She grew up with not much of anything. Hers is the period that definitely re-used everything. Feed sacks for aprons, 3 little ones in the same bathwater, old jackets made into quilts. It was very difficult for her to throw something away if there was even the tiniest bit of life left in anything-- at all. Being her child, well, I guess I caught some of that.

I still have the same vegetable peeler that I had when I got married nearly 18 years ago. Now, this is not a beautiful, silver, "wedding gift" vegetable peeler ... this is a garage sale peeler that got thrown in with a silverware purchase. It was used when I bought it ... 18 years ago.

I know, it's absurd ... but the thing still works ... kind of. Yes, the edge is dull. Yes, the handle is loose. Yes, it looks like it's pre-World War II. But there's some life left in it ... some. Exactly why? you ask, is it so hard for me to pitch the peeler out? Not easy to say, but I think I'm traumatized from my can opener adventure. I once had a hand can opener that I ended up throwing away because it, too, was so old. I broke down and obtained a new one. After one month of the "new" hand can opener, the gears stripped, and I found myself opening cans with a broken can opener ... squeeze, click, open ... squeeze, click, open ... squeeze, click, open ... all the way around the can. Of course you can see my concern. I'm terrified of obtaining another vegetable peeler. What happens when that one breaks? I'll end up peeling potatoes with a butter knife. And so, I hold on.

My partner got me another vegetable peeler not long ago when she was over for dinner one day and saw mine. It's terrific. A soft handle, sharp blades that swivel, no rust ... it's a lovely thing, truly. But I just can't divorce myself from my old peeler. Sentimentality? Nah. Devotion? That can't be it. Abating my carbon footprint? No. It's simply the feeling in the back of my head that there may still be some use left in this vegetable peeler of mine. Maybe I don't use it anymore, but I'm positive it would work for someone. I could sell it on ebay-- free shipping. I could certainly get 25 cents for it. maybe 50. The homeless shelter in my town, they can use it. Maybe you need a new peeler? I know, I'll have a garage sale and throw it in with a set of old silverware that I'm selling. I suspect it's got another 18 years left in it.