Farewell Old Friend

A couple of days ago, a beloved and long-time part of our family coughed, wheezed and then gasped its final breath while out in the garage.  We stood there staring down at the corpse and and gave a collective sigh of sadness.  "It had a long and productive life" we told each other.

No, I'm not talking about Lucy,  the kids claim she's indestructible,

I'm talking about The Blue Pig. 

The Blue Pig was the best damn vacuum that ever lived.  It had been part of my life ever since I could remember.   Growing up, we had 2 vacuums, a basic upright (Kirby?  Hoover?) and The Blue Pig.  I think my parents got The Blue Pig even before I was born and that's been 4 decades plus change.  I have no idea who named it The Blue Pig but we never called it anything else.  If anyone said, "Get the vacuum" we knew to get the upright.

When my parents divorced, my dad got custody of The Blue Pig.  When he died, I called dibs and brought The Blue Pig home where I could give it a happy, loving home.  Oh sure, there are SOME people who think I didn't take it out as often as I should have but rest assured, The Blue Pig KNEW it was wanted, needed and loved.  TheManTheMyth would even take The Blue Pig to work with him because it was a good little shop vac.  

And then one day, another vacuum, that %$#*! vacuum, arrived at our home and The Blue Pig was relegated to the garage and suddenly, it started showing its age.  Wheels would fall off, the cord became frayed, the latch had to be held shut with duct tape and the receptacle bag started to rot.  But the little Blue Pig was courageous and tried to prove it could still Get the Job Done.  And it tried.  It tried so hard but we knew it was just a matter of time.  We could hear the struggles in the motor.  And then several days ago, while TheManTheMyth was cleaning up the Factory garage, The Blue Pig's little heart (motor) coughed and sputtered, there was a tortured gasp and then all was silent.

TheManTheMyth gently picked up The Blue Pig and laid it in the back of his work truck.  The Blue Pig would be laid to rest at an undisclosed location, most likely the dumpster on the jobsite.

With the demise of The Blue Pig goes yet another part of my childhood.  I had always thought The Blue Pig would always be around, like Lucy, but The Blue Pig turned out to be mortal after all.

Farewell, Blue Pig. There will never be another as good as you.  You were Family.