Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

I used to think my grandparents’ “bug zapper” they had in their back yard was the greatest thing ever. We would sit there and watch it light up and make a satisfying electrical shock every time a flying insect would venture a little too close. I would look over at my grandpa and see him sitting there with a satisfying smile on his face that seemed to say, “That’s the best thing since sliced bread, isn’t Scotty?” Little did I know at the time, but I too would have a product that would give me that same type of satisfaction, only this time it would be a vacuum cleaner.

I have fallen victim to vacuum cleaners that I thought would be great. I plopped down $600 on a vacuum that is supposed to be one of the best on the market, but trust me when I say it is not. I have tried nearly every brand and each one has its positives and negatives. The biggest negative was that I or a member of my family (which is large by most people’s standards – but small by the Duggar’s standards) would have to push it, empty it, fix it and mess with it in general. No one likes to vacuum three or four times a week, which is the requirement for our household.
Then I saw it. It does look gimmicky as heck, and I wondered who would buy that for $300? I passed on, but I made a note to myself to check it out online. A few weeks later, I remembered this product and its claims and looked it up online. With the positive reviews and the generous return policy of the merchant, I confidently pulled the trigger on this purchase.
When I arrived home, I showed the new iRobot vacuum to my family. The kids were enthusiastic and wanted to know all about it, and they kind of took charge of the “robot vacuum project”. They studied the guide and owner’s manual and a couple of hours later, I heard a soft humming sound in the kitchen. It was the robot vacuuming up the crumbs on the floor, and the whole family just stood there watching with their mouths open. It worked equally as well on our carpet and keeps our floors looking great until our regular field day.
Before I knew it, the robot had been named Carl. Then, the call came for a robot for the upstairs. I didn’t complain because since Carl joined the family, I hadn’t touched a vacuum cleaner. I brought another one home, and the children quickly named it “Upstairs Carl” and revised Carl’s name to “Downstairs Carl.”
Sometimes, I find myself sitting in the living room watching Downstairs Carl work. It amazes me that it does such a thorough job and doesn’t miss a thing. I look over and my son is looking at me. He says “Isn’t this great, Dad?” I smile and say, “Yeah, the best thing since sliced bread. “