I can only imagine what it was like in the days when the Ice Man came every day to refill one's ice box. Home mechanical refrigeration was only a dream for many people 100+ years ago. Even now, many of us old timers still use the phrase "Ice Box" when we refer to a refrigerator. And yet, I've been treating my cupboard as my nourishment supply until my new refrigerator is delivered.
To prepare for the new refrigerator, I have emptied almost everything I could from the old machine and tossed it. Foodstuffs which were not opened that didn't need refrigeration for storage (i.e. Catsup) were left in the old machine to be removed in the morning. Since the freezer was working (as of this morning), I will put those items into Styrofoam cooler chests once I get the 30 minute warning. Virtually everything else can be taken out quickly or tossed quickly.
Luckily, I ordered a simple refrigerator - no water dispenser or ice maker. The simpler the device is, the less that will go wrong. That means that I should be able to expect a 12-15 year lifespan for the unit. By that time, I will likely be moving out of this place for a home on a single level - no stairs to climb. I expect that the old device should be out the door within 15 minutes of the truck's arrival, and that the new device should be in place 30 minutes after that.
Once the new refrigerator has been installed, I will get showered and dressed, then fill up the ice box with replacements for the stuff I had to throw out. Hopefully, it will perform as well as the old one did.
