a resurrected dishwasher and the pleasures of life

Perhaps the greatest pleasures in life are the smallest ones.

Here's why:

For some unknown reason, my dishwasher stops working. I fiddle around with it, rapidly turn its control buttons off and on, close and reopen it, empty it out of dirty dishes.

But these nervous efforts have no effect at all. My dishwasher's dead.

A brilliant thought enters my mind. Perhaps it's the circuit breaker that's disabled! I get my stool, bring it to the kitchen, open the circuit breaker -- everything seems to be fine with the circuit breaker. So, sadly, it can't be blamed ...

Another brilliant thought sneaks into my head. There must be something wrong with the electricity in my apartment building! There's a van outside, maybe some technicians from an electrical company are fixing something somewhere, and have turned off the electricity in parts of the building.

I call the manager's office. No, there is no electrical work being done in your building.

I sudddenly remember: in my filing cabinet, there's a "dishwasher" file. I discover that I bought the dishwasher in 2007 -- eight years ago. Maybe it's kaput from old age and needs a replacement.

But I worry: What will be the bill for a new dishwasher and the cost of installing it? There goes my monthly budget ...

But I have no choice but to contact the "experts." I call the company that installed my dishwasher. I explain the problem. Marvin replies that he can send a technician to check the dishwasher. When can he come, I ask -- except on the weekend, I tell him, because  (I remember from previous plumbing experiences) that's an excuse for overtime pay.

It's agreed: The technician will come Tuesday next week in the am. There will be only one bill: for dealing with the dishwasher issue (and, if can't be fixed) for installing a new one.

The phone rings. It's Marvin's boss, Bill. Bill tells me to call Mark, household appliances. No-nonsense Mark tells me that nothing can be done about the dishwasher by his company. I thank him for his honesty.

Back to square one. It's been about three hours since I've dealt with dishwasher. I decide to take a nap.

I wake up. I again open up my file cabinet. I again dig up my dishwasher file. Why don't I look at the "Use and Care Guide," I tell myself. I skim through the Guide, doubtful that it can enlighten me.

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I reach page 16 of the guide. My eyes turn to the section, "Locked." It says:

Use Locked to avoid unintended use of the dishwasher. You can also use the Locked feature to avoid unintended cycle or option changes during a cycle.

NOTE: When Locked is lit, all buttons are disabled.

I slowly return to the kitchen. I look at the dishwasher. LOCKED IS LIT!!!!!  -- Its "locked" little green light reminds me of a viper's eye.

I rush back to my desk, look at the guide again. It says:

To unlock the controls:

Press and hold the HEATED DRY button for 5 seconds until the light turns off.

I run back to the kitchen. I face the dishwasher again. I press the HEATED DRY button, slowly saying (praying?): "one, two, three, four, five."

THE GREEN LIGHT TURNS OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I press the "on" button. I hear the water dripping into the dishwasher. The dishwasher is OK!

It's been resurrected!

Ah, the small pleasures of life!

P.S. Feel free to call me collect if you need dishwasher advice. My fees are far below the going rate.