Oddly, I often think about my own alarm clock journey because there isn't much to it. As a child, my mom used to wake me up on the days I needed to be awake for any event. Then, by the time I was in 4th grade and now responsible for waking myself up, I received a wonderful Christmas gift from my grandmom... my first radio alarm clock.
Made by GE, the P'Jammer was wonderful in all of its early 1990's glory. I loved the snooze button (that gives you 9 minutes to sleep-in) and my choices between an everyday radio wake-up and a more serious if-you-don't-get-out-of-bed-on-time-you're-going-to-miss-something-very-important alarm wake-up. It also had a side panel that flipped down and gave you access to a coil of earbuds in case your parents thought your music was to loud.
So, remember how I said my alarm clock journey wasn't very long? That's it. 20+ year's later, I still use the P'Jammer. Long after the stuffed animals were banshed to a bag in the closet, the makeup Caboodle lay empty in a closet somewhere, and my giant NKOTB fan buttons misteriously disappeared, I still use this same wired, simple alarm clock. I never actually used the ear buds, and after years of non-use the foam cushioning deteriorated so badly I had to throw them away, but the rest of the P'Jammer is still going strong.
I have often thought of upgrading; snazzy designed alarm clocks call my name from the aisles at Target every back to school season and every time i flip through the SkyMall magazine on an airplane. I have an iPhone, so why not just use that like my husband? And I wouldn't have to change back my clock then every Daylight Savings Time. Heck, the thought of the energy that vampire electronic has sucked over the past 22 years is enough to give me heart palpitations. It takes up one-third of my narrow night stand, and wastes a plug space that I often need to charge my Kindle, iPhone, or plug in my bedside lamp.
But at the end of the day, I have not been able to part ways with that one thing - the constant companion to my mornings. I know it's nostalgic, sort of like all the stuff we found in our grandmother's house after she passed. It's the one thing in my house that you'd write a song about (sort of like Rachel Proctor's "If that chair could talk"). It has seen me through high school, college, and now married with a family.
I still smile when I turn that bigger-than-necessary radio on on 'cleaning days' and dance around the room folding laundry, and my hand actually has a relationship with the powder blue plastic snooze button. That clock has been the one item I absolutely rely on to get me out of bed, to know it's been set right. I feel angry towards hotel alarm clocks for being to fancy and troublesome to set. Plus everyone knows they're not trustworthy (so I always call down for a wake up call).
It may not make a lot of sense, but until that clock consumes its last watt of electricity, I'm going to love it.
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