Are you a fan of something? Most people that I know are fans of a sport or of an entertainer. If you know me, then you may think I am a fan of chocolate and baseball. While you would be correct, I’m also a fan of fans.
I’m talking about electrical fans. Better yet, I love the whirling noise the fan blades make as they spin. To me, it’s a comforting and soothing sound. That’s why they are all over our house. All the time. I have heard this from a few guests over the years: “Gee Brooke, think you all have enough fans?” Here’s another one: “It’s winter time for Pete’s sake. Why are you still using a fan?” In all fairness, when it’s cold, I turn the fan where it’s blowing in the opposite direction.
Are you wondering how my fan obsession started? I think it goes back to the summers of my childhood. After a long day of playing and chasing bugs, I would run to my grandparents’ carport. There I would stretch out on the soft “flowerdy” cushion Mamaw Jo kept on the glider. They also had a box fan that sat on metal legs. I turned it so the air blew directly onto my hot and sweaty face as I lay there. To me, that was heaven on earth. It would relax me so much that I actually feel asleep. So, to me, fans give me a sense of comfort and security.
Recently, a fan in our basement bedroom went out. Tim and I like to sleep there since it’s dark and there’s less road noise. Anyway, when I turned the fan on one night, we didn’t hear the usual pleasant “whir.” Instead, it made a high pitch screeching noise. Tim said he thought the ball bearings were the problem. Then it quit. So, I went upstairs and brought down the fan that sat in the hallway next to the living room. In the morning, I carried it back upstairs. But there was one major problem. We couldn’t feel the air off of it since it sat on the floor whereas the old one was on pedestal.
Then my ingenious husband noticed something. “I think the fans are the same size. I can switch the broken one with the other fan on the pedestal.” At first, I panicked a little. If he messed up the one big fan that works, what will I do? My little fan just wouldn’t do right now.
Tim reassured me he could do it and not mess up my fan. He brought a wrench and some screws from his toolbox. Then he proceeded to take the broken one off of its stand. Next, he took off the front of my good one. With precision he then attached it to the frame. I don’t mean to sound weird, but it was kinda like watching a surgeon. But then again, I’m mechanically impaired. So, we have a tall fan downstairs again and we can also feel the air. As for the upstairs, we bought another fan. I’m listening to it right now.
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 KJV)
Could I live and sleep without a fan? It would take a little getting used to, but yes, I could. Let’s face it, there are many things that we hold dear that we could live without. But as for me, a relationship with The Lord is a true necessity. I simply can’t imagine a day without Him in it. For me, nothing on earth is worth not having that.
There is one more thing that I like about fans: I have fun talking into them. It makes my voice sound choppy or wavy as if I was underwater. When I was a kid, I used to pretend I was talking to a friends who lived in the ocean. So if you happen to see me talking into a fan, just know that I am still having fun.

Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.