2010: Merry Christmas everyone.

This year’s must-haves are next year’s garage sale junk

PHOTO: Lee Ann age 5 years old.



By Lee Ann Schutz
Published Prior Lake American December 2001
Let the refrain begin ... “Tis the season of a lot of gadgets, whir, and whir and whir, whir, whir.” Every year it’s something new - gadgets guaranteed to make life easier, peeling potatoes a breeze and food more healthy.The snake oil sales force is on the prowl with TV ads and infomercials that inform and entice us to buy the latest, the newest and the most improved.This year’s must-have item under the Christmas tree will more than likely find its way to the back of the cupboard or onto next spring’s garage sale. I’m not a gadget person. I am embarrassed to say how long I’ve been able to get by with a few no-name pots and pans, a good set of knives and a manual can opener. Don’t misunderstand me ... I love convenience. Just try to take away my garbage disposal and dishwasher. But please, no salad shooter, Chop-o-matic, Fry Daddy, hamburger-maker or latte machine.I have even resisted the temptation to buy a juicer, food dehydrator, foot massager and ice tea maker. Lately, though, I can feel my will breaking. I have looking longingly at breadmakers. Now, I would really use that, I tell myself convincingly. But if I’ve learned anything from my personal gadget history, it’s this ... the mood will pass as soon as I’ve baked my third loaf of bread, and the contraption will end up in the garage along with my 1970s fondue pot, (which I understand is once again the latest must-have entertaining item.)I’ve come up with an idea that I hope a budding entrepreneur will grab onto. I think we should have a rental place for all would-be-gadget buyers. Here’s how it would work. Let’s say I have a yen to buy a stationary bike (I get that craving every year right after Thanksgiving.)I would rent the item until the yen passed, and if the gadget worked its way onto my necessity list ... well, then I could buy it!Remember when the microwave first came out with all the options and the hope of easier, faster meals? Yeah, and how long did it take before that expensive gadget was used only for warming coffee and microwave popcorn?So, a word to anyone else thinking of buying me a present this year - If you’re thinking juicer, think again.

Multan, Pakistan

Click here to view this photo book larger