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Alice has a gas stove in her kitchen. Virgil, who lives next door, has an electric stove. Alice thinks that it's time for Virgil to give serious thought to a change, and with good reason: Virgil's stove doesn't work.
For example, Virgil's right front element comes on only when set at high. It is thus a good burner for boiling water for his twice-weekly spaghetti dinner.
The left front burner works only at the levels of low and simmer. This is where he melts butter and makes stove-top custard.
The right rear burner doesn't work at all, no matter what the setting. This is where Virgil sets pots when he's too busy to put them in the cupboard.
The left rear burner works at all settings, but it's a small burner and is awkward to reach, being next to the wall, so he seldom uses it. Only if he were to cook an elaborate meal would he make use of the left rear burner, and Virgil doesn't cook many elaborate meals.
You might think that Virgil hates this stove, with its inconvenient idiosyncrasies. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Virgil likes making do. He relishes the challenge of remembering which burner is good for which task, and he pretends that it's like cooking on an AGA. He thinks the brain activity required to use his stove efficiently is actually insulating him from Alzheimer's as he grows older.
But Virgil has to contend with Alice. They chat often, as neighbors, and the subject of their conversation, to his chagrin, is frequently their stoves. Alice has a gas stove that she loves. Alice sees no virtue in muddling through with faulty electric elements. Alice is determined to persuade Virgil to come to the gas side of the fence, where the grass is always greener.
"I can boil water in half the time, Virgil," says Alice.
"I don't mind the extra time," says Virgil. "I just sit at the kitchen table and read the paper while I wait for the water to boil."
This conversation will continue with many variations until Alice succeeds in converting Virgil to her way of thinking. Alice doesn't give up easily.
On the other hand, they are both already of a certain age, or a bit past it. If Virgil can just outlive Alice, he can grow older in peace, making do with his barely-functioning electric stove.
http://www.scenesfromthejourney.blogspot.com
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