When “IT” Came Home

Television was a staple in our house for almost as long as I can remember.

Our first was a Philco console type, strictly black and white of course,

but I was only about two years old when it made it’s debut into our

living room so I literally grew up with TV.

As time went by, we owned several sets and had moved our

TV viewing from our living room to the solarium just off the living

room. There was, of course, no such thing as a remote control for

the television, so I became the family “clicker.”

We would be gathered around the TV and when my dad wanted

to watch something else, he’d say, “Wendy. turn on channel 8.” or

“Wendy, turn down the television.” I would obey thinking how I

wished there was some other way.

I guess I groused enough though, because one day, my dad

came home toting a box. Judging by the look on his face,

there was something delightfully mechanical in it.

Dad always loved gadgets and gizmos, so when he opened the box

and pulled out a contraption with buttons and wires, Mom and I

gathered around to see what he’d brought.

It was, he announced proudly, pulling out the instructions,

an, “IT”!

Of course, Mom and I could see it was an IT but Dad went on

to explain that this revolutionary gadget would change the way

we watched television. You see, once properly attached to our

set and plugged in, this pre-space age thing-a-ma-jig was going

to replace me as the television dial turner!

I was skeptical, but very happy to think I might get through a

whole evening without having to jump up to turn the channels

from one program to another. My wish had come true!

Dad spread out the instructions on the coffee table in the solarium.

He gathered some tools and set to work. The gadget would be attached

to the channel changing dial on the set and the gears would turn

the channel by pressing buttons on the box. It would work with

electricity so there were wires running from the box to the television

and back and one to an electrical outlet.

He tried to position all the wires so that we wouldn’t trip over

them, turned on the TV and then sat down to try out his new gizmo.

Mom and I watched as he pushed the button and the channel changed

like magic! I was stunned!

He sat there for hours changing the channels and bragging about his

new gadget. I, apparently had been replaced by automation! I was

in heaven.

We had dinner that evening, woofing down our meal so that we

could get back to the television in time for our favorite shows.

I was especially happy because once snuggled on the couch

with my little dog beside me, I would be able to stay right there

and not have to jump up every half hour to turn the channel.

We watched several shows on different channels, Dad changing

to the next one automatically! He was very pleased.

As the evening wore on though, a storm was brewing outdoors.

The thunder was beginning to rumble and bang, and the

noise level was steadily rising. Dad clicked around the dial a few times

and got a funny look on his face. He looked over at me all

curled up on the couch. “Wendy,” he said sheepishly, “would

you please go over and turn up the sound?” When the storm

ended, he looked over at me again with a big grin and I just

trotted over to the set and turned down the volume before

he could say what I knew he was thinking.

“IT” stayed at our house for a long time. I hadn’t been completely

replaced by the gadget though. In fact, I was probably up and down

more than ever, because back then, commercial messages always

came in much louder than the shows did and the volume varied from

station to station. So with Dad’s new found freedom in channel changing,

(and he did it quite often) came even more frequent requests for me to

turn up or turn down the sound. I knew then what was meant by the

old saying, “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.”

Sigh!

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