I got the most wonderful gift yesterday
My sister, who owns the 2-family house that she shares w/ my Dad, cleaned his kitchen this weekend. There, sitting on the countertop, was my Mom's Kitchen Aid standing mixer, which has been sitting there since Alzheimer's Disease rendered her unable to bake--something at which she excelled and something she very much enjoyed doing.
It's now in my kitchen--complete w/ a dough hook and paddle attachment. The whole smash.
Next month (one month from today, actually) it will be two years since Mom left this world.
When Sis asked me if I wanted it, I broke into tears. I had thought about asking for it, but felt uncomfortable doing so. You never know what people will be attached to, or how strong those attachments may be.
Honestly, I don't think any of my brothers and sisters would use it. Maybe one of my nieces. But I wanted it.
I always feel my Mom's presence when I'm in the kitchen. Sometimes I imagine I hear her talking to me--reminding me of her recipes and offering suggestions. Now I have her equipment with me.
I'm going to have to look online for a user's manual. I've never used one of these machines. (Yeah, I know, that seems surprising, but I've only started baking in the last few years.)
= new reply since forum marked as read
if you don't find a manual I would be happy to scan mine and send you a pdf, or I could even print it. but I bet it is on line. everything is, it seems. 
mine is the larger artisan, I think. with the regular base, not the lift.
I got one of the newer "Artisan" models (bought about 10 years ago) and they are all very simple. One side has a mechanical slide switch to lock or unlock lifting the top motor assembly that holds the beaters, and the other side has a a slider switch that controls the speed (a series of increasing numbers, usually up to 10). I never went much above 4 - 6.
The thing is a tank and I even had mine take a tumble off the counter and it was still going on the floor and was just fine. 
I grew up with what I think was a Sunbeam stand mixer and as kids, we always thought they were a hassle - heavy and took up too much space, and had a glass bowl for mixing which could break if we weren't careful, so mom eventually got a hand mixer.
Once I was an adult and after years of various hand mixers, I appreciated the stand mixer for those times when something needed stirring or beating or creaming for 5 - even 10 minutes, and you could just set it and let it go and do other things. I haven't used it for kneading dough since I have a breadmaker that does that perfectly, but that is another great use for them when you use a dough hook.
The other thing about the KitchenAid is that at the front of the motor assembly, you can remove the little cover and add all kinds of attachments that will use the motor (e.g., for slicing, grinding, pasta making, sausage-making etc).
What a fantastic and loving surprise gift. Enjoy!
ETA: spelling/grammar corrections.
I'd been away from the site and wasn't aware.
I'm so glad your sister thought to gift you her stand mixer. What a wonderful keepsake to have and use to keep her memory alive.
