Introducing Mister Long Life

Let me introduce you to Mr. Long Life, of the Electrohome Long Lives, the newest member of L’heure Bleue At Home. I spotted him sitting in a box at the thrift store alongside other relics of the past such as a macramé plant hanger and orangey brown carved candles. I was there to make a donation and get rid of stuff, not cart home more stuff. But I couldn’t get Mr. Long Life out of my mind. I circled the store once, maybe thrice. I wasn’t thinking vintage fan as much as I was thinking James Bond, Sean Connery as James Bond, Dr. No, sweltering island heat , blazing sun, sitting on the porch of some rickety beach shack and the only breeze coming from Mr. Long Life.

So I go to a sales clerk and say, “Could you price this fan for me?” He comes back with a highish price but, still, it’s not too bad. Then he plugs it in.
“Hmm, only one speed?”
Laughter ensues. “Miss, this is a very old fan.”

I must say that I do love being called “Miss” even though I have left the “Miss” stage a long time ago. But I digress.

I cart home Mr. Long Life and spend an hour cleaning out what looks like the remnants of a bird’s nest from the cage. “I have made a stupid mistake”, thinks I. Then I plug it in. All I hear and see is the sad, slow thump of the engine and limping whir of the blades. “Nooooo, but it worked fine in the store!” Right, I will give this geezer another chance before turning him into an art installation titled “Home for Birds”. And that’s when I find out the secret of Mr. Long Life. He’s like the little engine that could. It takes a while for him to get going as if he needs to build up his self-confidence. But once he does, he roars away like a tornado, to the point where I am worried that he will jump and hop right off the edge and on to the floor. He’s had a neglected life but now he has a home in his dotage. Mister Long Life indeed.

A special shout out to A Vintage French Henwho was the very first to comment on L'Heure Bleue At Home and is my very first follower as well! It was like Christmas morning and getting a present that I didn't know I wanted until I saw it.
I'm linking up to Coastal Charm and Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays.