My mom and dad have been watching the same TV for the last twelve years. It's one of those great big floor models and surprisingly enough, it still ticks. They have cable but only the near-by stations. If they weren't huge television watching fans, I wouldn't care their TV is as old as I am but they watch it all day long. They watch The Price is Right in the morning, Jeopardy in the evening and then The Late Show at night all on their 70s TV.



I wish they would realise what a brand new television could do for them. It's not as if they don't have money either. They were successful their entire life. They made great money, provided everything we ever wanted and they were fit to retire early. I just feel that since they made so numerous sacrifices for us it's time they invest some of their money in their own enjoyment.

HD televisions are not that pricey in relation to many additional things in life. They could buy one for a few thousand dollars and they wouldn't even miss it. I have taken them to Best Buy a few times to demo 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 throw out their old television because a part of me thinks they have an sentimental connection to it. They could always move it to the other room and even watch it if one of them craved to watch something different. New change is tough, I know this, and I know they have a hard time getting use to 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 tv finally gave out.

They thought about getting it worked on 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 image 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, "I told you so" but I certainly was thinking it. They now view their new HDTV as they did before but with a totally different understanding.