Mid Week Philosophy: Metal Spatula

This metal spatula that I have, made by Ekco, is old, really old.  On the shaft  it says ” Stainless Steel U.S.A.,  Ecko Forge”. The  handle is wooden and it’s black now from too many washings.  And the blade  part has a crack where it is soldered to the shaft.    We all use it in our household every day.  It very rarely makes it back into the utility drawer.

My son saw the crack and told me.  I have had this spatula since I lived in Albany, my mother had given it to me when I moved into my own apartment.  I was 20 years old.  It was old then.  I don’t know how long she had it before giving it to me…….  I never gave it a second thought when I was younger, I probably thought, great, a hand me down, why didn’t she buy me a new one?

It’s the best metal spatula I have.  So I am sad because I have not been able to find a replacement.  I thought I bought one  last year but the metal part is too flimsy and works lousy at flipping eggs.  I use mine more than a spatula, I use it to stir  food, smash food, break up food: it can’t be flimsy.  I’ve tried using a metal  spoon as a substitute but it’s not the same.  So, it has become invaluable to me.

I am sitting at the computer dismayed that some day it will break and I will be mad at myself that I didn’t take better care of it.  I had a fleeting thought that I would get  someone to make a replica, but who?

I know it’s  silly.  But my husband just went by as I was holding the spatula in my hands pondering and said, What are you doing?  I told him and he said, That’s a great spatula!