They say that there are 5 stages of grief. I’m proud to say that I’m finally at acceptance where my VCR is concerned.
I had spent much of my teens & twenties acquiring VHS tapes through trips to the mall and via those (ahem…rip off) online video clubs where my library of hardcover books at home was quickly overtaken by black, plastic cassettes in their cardboard sleeves.
So began my journey…
Denial
I had collected tapes of all my favorite movies, plays and television series. I had so many tapes that I spent the better part of the late 90′s without cable television as I caught up on all my acquisitions. I heard some scuttlebutt about DVDs.. now, I am not saying I was so naive as to think that that contraption hadn’t arrived to stay, but I had already made such an investment and commitment in the world of VHS that I couldn’t bear to start over.
Anger
My television had a built in VCR and I had hundreds of tapes, it would seem that I would have to purge myself of all these items, only to replace them with the newest version; and who knew how long that newest trend was going to last?!? I was annoyed. All of those empty promises. I felt jilted.
Bargaining
The likes of Sony & Panasonic brought us the combo DVD/VCR combo player. After buying our first 48 inch plasma screen television, I bridged into this century with the purchase of one of these dual players where I was able to give equal playing time to both mediums.
Acceptance
Finding VHS tapes had become nearly impossible (especially renting) – so I joined the masses. I have, of course, rented many DVDs now through Netflix and have even purchased a few new DVDs but not with the same abandon I did it’s predecessor. I guess I just don’t want to get hurt again. 
So now I have come full circle. Are there any other “closet VHS” folks out there with boxes full of VHS (and maybe even Beta) tapes just waiting for their revival, similar to the bell bottom jean?
By Norah Treptow, Account Manager
