January 2020
Today, I said goodbye to a friend I’ve had since my second year in university. My Zenith 19” TV. I have many fond memories of Zenith. I watched many great movies and television shows on this radiation box, including the very first episode of The Simpsons.
Zenith moved with me from city to city, providing me with hours and hours of entertainment; everywhere from returning to my parents house after university, to my first of several apartments, through to the four houses that I’ve owned.
Zenith has been there through several relationships, three cats and even a marriage that sadly ended.
Zenith was witness to the birth of my daughter and all the important milestones that come with raising children.
I was hoping my friend would be there to see my daughter graduate from high school and maybe even university. It’s sad to think that my friend won’t be there to see the joy on my face when my daughter (hopefully) has children of her own; a joy that I’m sure will equal the joy that I felt the day she was born.
Zenith, you weren’t the high definition, high technology enabled televisions that we have today, nor were you so light and compact that I could carry you with one hand or mount you on a wall. You were contained in a TV cabinet that while it did provide much needed shelf space, is bulky and takes up more space than I’d like, and you were so old that in more recent years, I needed a digital converter box just so I could watch television programs on you, but no Netflix.
Although I did buy a companion TV for you in 2000, a 27” TV that became my primary TV, you we’re still important to me. When my daughter was born, you became the TV on which I played her children’s movies and the many Treehouse shows that captivated her eyes. My daughter and I enjoyed many hours of watching things like Scamp’s Adventure, Pooh’s Grand Adventure, Tweety Bird and all the great Sesame Street Muppets like Elmo, Super Grover and Cookie Monster, through your flickering glow.
I enjoyed all the time that we spent together and dreaded the thought that one day we would have to say goodbye. As I said, you weren’t high technology and I did curse the fact that I had to pay $650 for you, a high price for even a small TV such as you back in 1989, but until recently, you picture was clear and you sound was good. However, finally age caught up with you.
Goodbye Zenith. I know you have gone to a better place and despite your age, hopefully some of your parts can provide material for other electronic devices.
I’ll never forget you Zenith, and every time I turn on Netflix, Apple TV or any of the other streaming services that I can now watch on my new flat-screen TV, I know that my eyes will get a little misty thinking that you aren’t here to enjoy it with me.
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