New Secrets

Moving into a new place is like entering a foreign country. There is a new language to learn, new routes to travel and new people to meet. After the mountain of cardboard boxes levels down, and the furniture is placed, other matters are to be ascertained. The matter of where to put things away if you are "sizing down", as most of us are doing these days, is one situation. The next is when I  put items in drawers and cupboards, how best can I use their space and find anything afterwards. One of the disturbing things that I encountered from Day One in my new place, was that my adorable little wine cooler that houses my V8 juice, Coca Cola and sometimes an apple or two, did not work. Even though I received one of the brand new gigantic fridges with all the compartments and French doors so that all my messy food bits are completely exposed, I still depend on my handy little cooler. I pulled it out from the wall with great peril as there were lots of candle sticks and other dangerous objects on top, but even then, checking the condition of the plug and making sure the motor looked healthy, the thing would not go on. I had other pressing moves to contend with, so merely left my cooler cuddled forlornly in the corner next to the behemoth fridge and went about my business. Now that everything else more or less is settled in its place, cramped though it is, the little cooler needs another go-round. I pulled it out again. No problem this time. The candle sticks are grounded on top and the large décor bowl, firmly established making it quite safe to pull out the wine cooler without immediate danger to my skull. Someone told me that when you move sometimes these things need to stand erect for awhile before they work. It had been a few weeks of standing erect and now came the test. It had to work or it was going out and a new one would take its place. I told the little appliance what I just told you. Work or go! I put the plug into the outlet, turned the dial - and nothing!  Okay, thought I, perhaps the outlet has blown. Off I went to check the fuse box. No, all was well there. I took a lamp and plugged it into the outlet. Nothing. It's a dud, I told myself, and then gazing across the room I spotted the switches on the opposite wall. Aha, one of them I knew controlled an overhead light which I did not use for a chandelier. So that's likely the switch that operates this outlet, thought I, turning it on. Still nothing happened. Okay, I determined, it's time to call an electrician. I went back to the cooler, and began to push it into place.  I noticed well behind the buffet beside it, a set of wall switches. What are those doing in such an awkward space, thought I? Well, I will give it a try. Nothing to lose. I switched on the secret rocker device, and guess what? The little wine cooler clicked on; it's tiny blue light shone merrily and so did my smile The cooler is now completely stocked with tomato juice and other more sophisticated drinks.  Here's a toast to the little wine cooler and the mysterious secret wall switch. Cheers!