My mom and dad have been watching the same TV for the last 13 years. It's one of those ugly big floor models and astonishingly enough, it still works. They have cable but only the near-by stations. If they weren't huge TV watching fans, I wouldn't care their TV is as old as the hills but they watch it all day long.



They follow their local news in the morning, Wheel of Fortune in the evening and then The Late Show at night all on their 70s TV. I wish they would realize what a brand new television could do for them. It's not as if they don't have money either.

They were prosperous their whole life. They made great money, provided everything we ever sought and they were able to withdraw early. I just feel that since they made so many sacrifices for us it's time they spend some of their money in their own enjoyment.

HD televisions are not that overpriced in relation to many other things in life. They could buy one for a few hundred dollars and they wouldn't even miss it. I have taken them to Best Buy a few times to show them the new HDTV and HD pictures on them.

They are both impressed and sometimes it takes a while for me to get them out of the HDTV area. They are mesmerized, which is why I know they would love it if they had one. I am not saying they should pitch out their old television because a part of me thinks they have an sentimental fondness to it.

They could always move it to the other bedroom and even watch it if one of them craved to watch something different. New change is challenging, I know this, and I know they have a difficult time accepting new technology like HDTV.

I asked them if they would like me to buy it for them or if they would be mad if I bought it for them as a gift. They denied both and said they don't need a new television and to stop talking about it. A few weeks after they said this to me, their nasty old tv finally shot craps.

They thought about getting it repaired but then broke down and bought an HDTV. Would you believe they called me and said they should have bought it years ago? They said the HD picture was out of this world and they have no idea how they dealt with the old one for so long.

I didn't tell them, "See what I mean" but I certainly was thinking it. They now watch their new HDTV as they did before but with a whole new appreciation.