The washer saga

This week, our 10-year-old washer started to malfunction. The agitation plate came loose, eventually detaching from the machine. As two fairly active people, losing a washer wouldn't work for us; we needed our workout clothes. This situation needed to be rectified as soon as possible. Of course, like any significant home travesty, it happened on a Sunday. I called Metro Appliance, thinking that I could get a tech out to our home the next day while understanding that appliance repairs are fairly complex and expensive. Let's face it: the unfortunate reality is that appliances are no longer made to last. It's not even a cliché; it's simply a reality that most appliances fall short of their marketed lifespan.

As an aside, I want to take a second and acknowledge the impact of companies that are now less interested in building sustainable products, opting for inherently inferior design instead of that once prideful creation of objects that would last a lifetime, gleaming in craftsmanship and intricacy. For instance, our Rolleiflex camera. Objectively, this is a tool that is not too different from our washing machine. Its purpose is to work thousands of times, if not hundreds of thousands of times, which consists of: Taking a photo through the shutter and winding mechanism. Our camera is 80 years old and still functioning properly to this day. How is it that someone in the 1940s could create a camera that would easily last 100-plus years, but someone in 2025 is unable to create a washing machine that lasts more than 10 years? When you look at it this way, you realize that obsolescence is a choice that many companies make, and unfortunately, the consumer pays the price. Now, back to the story.

The next morning, as we discussed the washer's demise, accepting our fate, I concluded that it may be in our best interest to search Facebook Marketplace. As avid Facebook market aficionados, we've rolled the dice more than once on listed opportunities, from furniture to technology, taking advantage of the low-priced items. This would be yet another opportunity to make up for our newly found misfortune, saving us some money in the process. A few years back, I went down a YouTube rabbit hole and started watching videos on appliances. I have an intense fascination with things that don't matter: watching countless videos and reading every available article on a subject until I've exhausted the subject matter, eventually moving on to another obsession. For instance, I once became infatuated with learning about a video game that, until this point, I had never heard of or even planned on playing. Yet, I could explain all the strategies you would need to become the best at this particular game. I don't know why I do this, but for some reason, it relaxes me.

After checking one of my past saved videos on washers, there was the name I faintly remembered from my foray into the world of appliances, "Speed Queen," known as the most recommended name in washers and dryers, a company that has been around since 1908. Interesting fact, they specialized in building commercial grade washers and dyers, the kind that are coin operated, running forever, and needing little repairs. They maintained this reputation of consistency and quality for decades until they realized in the early 2000s that a consumer-focused product would be something people may appreciate. Their product isn't fancy; it's a utilitarian appliance built for reliance, not style. But that's the reason they have such a cult following. I knew this was the washer and dryer for us. I hurriedly searched Facebook market, and like Kismet, a two-year-old pair of Speed Queens presented themselves, barely used, being listed just under our preferred budget the night before. Was it meant to be? They were listed in Cedar Falls, which was a drive but not too far for the potential deal to be had. I messaged the gentleman and, within minutes, had a response. They were available; however, instead of Cedar Falls, the gentleman had recently moved to Spirit Lake (Okoboji). This meant that a short drive of only an hour would now be a 3.5-hour trip both ways. We discussed and agreed that it was still worth the drive for this rather lame, but strangely exciting adult purchase.

It wasn't lost on us that this kind of situation would usually stress us out. Losing a washer, scrambling to find a new one, and embarking on a 7-hour drive to procure them could have been a friction point. However, oddly enough, we weren't fazed by any of this; not the washer breaking, the searching for its replacement, or even the marathon drive. We were at ease and accepted what needed to be done. Truthfully, we were even kind of excited. We made a plan and left for Spirit Lake at 12:30 on Monday. Snacks ready and coffees in hand, we enjoyed our drive, talking about life and dodging a massive tornado-producing storm system that followed us throughout the day. As we arrived in Okoboji, we took Athena on a walk after a torrential downpour, complete with a bit of hail. She enjoyed the opportunity to bask in the spring-fed waters of Lake Okoboji. It felt appropriate for Athena to enjoy a dip only a few days after her 14th birthday. Swimming is her favorite pastime.

After our walk and short swim session, we procured the washer and dryer, strapping them down and covering them in a tarp and plastic wrap for the journey back to Des Moines. The storm system had made its way up to Minnesota, but with our luck, we (meaning Emily) understood that it was in our best interest to protect the asset, not do what I do best, which is roll the dice. The journey back was fun, catching the sites of rolling fields and unexplored little towns sprinkled throughout our route. As we rolled into Windsor Heights at 9:15 PM, we reminisced on a day that had begun with such uncertainty and yet ended with a new set of appliances.

We could have easily let any or all of these scenarios eat away at our happiness. And trust me, in the past, things like this would have ruined our day. It could be all the times we've sprinted through airports to catch a flight or the countless times we've gotten lost in unknown countries. But the seasons of life sometimes bestow wisdom as much as they do age. As a couple, we've realized that most of the time, these kinds of inconveniences are insignificant. It's just part of life, and occasionally there is happiness in the chaos. We took joy in the fact that when we needed a new washer, we found it without much difficulty, and what made it even better was that there was also a dryer. We took comfort in the fact that we could pick it up the same day we needed it. We found happiness in the fact that speed queens are made here in America with a century-long legacy. And lastly, we accepted the problems not as issues but as opportunities.

Many moments in life are out of our control. Things simply happen. What is in our control is how we choose to view the situation. For us, instead of an inconvenience, it was a Monday road trip and a story for the archives. It was a chance to take solace in the fact that we have the abundance and ability to address problems as they're presented. Life isn't fair, but in the same breath, life isn't unfair. Life just is. We always have a choice in how we perceive it. For us, it was an adventure and a chance to have some clean laundry.