Murphy's law or just the realities of life?

     Some may call it Murphy's law but I happen to know that it is only the realities of life.  Things happen in three's around here.  When you take into account the fact that we live in an old barn of a farmhouse and that everything here is older than dirt (ok, not older than dirt since that is my husband's age but close) you can bet that Murphy and reality are going to be in competition for supremacy.
     The first is my laptop.  It hasn't died completely yet it is being dramatic and making that slow slide into oblivion.  I think high end electronics like a computer prefer to go in a more theatrical way than say a toaster or can opener.  They are much more mundane.
     Next it was the dishwasher.  When that breaks we tend to bury our heads in the proverbial sand and ignore the symptoms until it is unavoidable.  But alas the dishwasher is totally disabled and the kit that was ordered to fix it seems to be the wrong one so it will sit awhile longer until it can be fixed.  That is one broken appliance that cuts me to the heart when it breaks. 
     Last night it was the dryer.  The breakdown of a one of the laundry appliances is tantamount to a tragedy in this house.  That is like a death in the family.  I feel the need to dress in black and wear a veil over my face.  My poor husband has been in the laundry room for a couple of hours now trying to figure out why it won't turn on.  My hand, even now, hovers over the phone ready to call the repairman and have him come to fix it or pronounce it dead.  Matthew has the .22 loaded and ready in case we have to haul it out and put it out of our misery. 
     Aged appliances and an even older house make for one of two possible scenarios.  The inhabitants can either develop a good sense of humor and excellent all around fixing skills or they can go slowly mad.  It is really hard to tell which of those things is happening around here.