Ode to a Sunbeam

From the days when a "real housewife" meant Donna Reed, before Gloria Steinem published the first issue of MS. Magazine, while America was having its love affair with Swanson and the word "arugula" was only ever used in Scrabble, Sunbeam made a hand-held mixer that was the pride of Jean Whittingham's Weston, Connecticut kitchen. She used it to beat Duncan Hines cake mix and Jell-O pudding. With its help, Thanksgiving's mashed potatoes were fluffy and Saturday morning's Bisquick pancakes were light. I've got it today; it still does the job. You expect the jewelry and the mink coat to last. They're beautiful and valuable, meaningful for their association with Mom. But a lightweight plastic mixmaster with its piddly little motor? What this humble kitchen appliance stands for is endless love.