Editor’s Note: Sandra McElwaine is a Washington-based journalist who writes for Time, Forbes and The Washington Post.

When my doorbell rang yesterday afternoon in Georgetown, it was 101 degrees. I opened it to find a red-faced, perspiring salesman proffering a card with “Electrolux” written on it in large red letters.

He introduced himself as Steve or Steverino. "You know, like Steve Allen," he explained. He said he had come to check out my vacuum.

I told him it was old and clunky and heavy and that I hated it. I really wanted to trade it in for something new, light and easy to use.

"Let me have look," he said convincingly, so I let him in.

He grappled with the machine, removed a grimy lint pad and told me there was nothing wrong. It would last another ten years, but the hose was a problem — it was malfunctioning. I needed a new one, plus a new lint pad.

"How much?"I queried

"One hundred and six," he replied.

"Forget it," was my response.

Then he looked at me and said,"I know you. I’ve known you for years. I sold you this vacuum at your old house on N Street." (That would have been more than 12 years ago.) And he went on, his voice rising: "I sold you one in your other house in Kalorama." (That would have been, like, 30 years ago.) I sat there dumbfounded. "And," he continued, "I know your name. Let me think." He closed his eyes and placed his hand on his eyebrow, dramatically fluttering his fingers. "It begins with M," he repeated several times. Finally I blurted it out: "McElwaine."

"I knew it," he said with an engaging grin.

I was hooked. Did he have a Ouija board, a dossier of all his former clients in his car? Did I really look the same? No Botox, no nips, tucks or peels — just a few blonde streaks and Oil of Olay.

Then he told me about a secondhand hose which cost only $69. ("Only for you," he murmured sotto voce.)

I thanked him profusely and, being a penny-pincher, said I would think about it and call. I did, of course, first thing this morning. The secondhand hose is on its way along with a couple of packages of brand new lint pads. I guess I’ll have that damn Electrolux for the next decade!