I have experienced an event that marks the end of an era for me. My vacuum died. This was the last relic of my young, single, care-free life. Much like me, it hasn’t worked quite right for years, it blew more dust around than it sucked up, but it was mine. I first moved out of my parents’ house when I was sixteen, and moved into my first apartment without a roommate in 1992 when I was twenty. This was when the vacuum became part of my life; it has traveled many miles with me and cleaned many floors. Good-bye my friend. Now, in my state of mourning, I’m going to Costco to get a new vacuum!