The Prompt: Soulful Machines—Machines, appliances, and gadgets sometimes feel like they have their own personalities — from quirky cars to dignified food processors. What’s the most “human” machine you own?
Machines are made to serve us, so
life’s easier on us as we go.
They’re with us from our starts to ends,
so some consider them our friends.
Blenders, fryers,
washers, dryers,
curling irons and waffle irons,
fans that cool our environs,
smoke alarms and heating pads,
foot massagers and other fads
are handy, sure, without a doubt,
but really, I could go without.
There’s only one that’s necessary—
only one that I’d be wary
of giving up. For my success,
I must admit and must confess
I don’t think I’d go very far
in life without some sort of car.
It’s not that I hate walking so;
but rather that where’er I go,
I need to take a lot of stuff,
and a mere bag is not enough
for wallet, makeup, brushes, keys,
Kleenex (just in case I sneeze),
a case of CD’s, books and jacket,
sunscreen and badminton racket,
bug repellant, snacks and gum,
a bottle of Bacardi rum,
a first aid kit, my books to sell
(a box in case they sell real well)
bags for shopping because I’m green,
an ice chest, water and sunscreen,
a phone in case somebody calls me.
(I’m ready for whate’er befalls me.)
So now that we are near the end,
I’ll say my car is not my friend.
And I’ll admit to even worse:
my car is just my largest purse!
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Well, at least you scaled down in purse size from an enormous Dodge van carry all to a sporty and stylish little Honda CRV.
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Right. Only our friends know the full story. It is now loaded down from a run to Costco and Office Depot. You know how it goes–out of toilet paper and $500 later . . .
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I love ‘list’ poems and this one is great!
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Mark—I know. List poems do allow one to go on and on and on. Glad to say I do this more in writing than in person. I hope.
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This made me giggle. Your car sure has personality 🙂 I don’t need the gadgets either – although I have the food processor and stereo and laptop – but a car is not on my list. I can’t drive, never learned and I don’t miss it at all. Walking keeps me fit and it also means I can’t take half my life with me 😀
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Thanks, mojo–My figure would benefit from your example, but I’d have to be a weight lifter as well to carry what I “must.” Actually, it is usually in a good cause–utilitarian goods necessary for shows or classes or whatever. Excuses, excuses.
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I love the thought of your car being a purse! So funny and relatable!
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And definitely not fiction, Tildy. I think it comes from traveling in such remote places for so many years. I still have the feeling that if called upon to do so, I should be able to survive on what I carry with me for a few days at the least. I even carry a syringe with the antidote to scorpion stings in my car! Thanks for reading and commenting. Judy
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I love this. “….my car is just my largest purse!” I completely get this! I could survive in my Jeep for about six weeks. I keep food, blankets, extra clothes including mittens (year round) in there. Living in the mountains of Maine, it’s just smart to plan for an overnight stay in the ditch.
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Thanks, Lew-Ellyn. I knew I couldn’t be the only one. Some day I’ll detail the other reasons why I feel I need to be ready for any emergency. Or, “How I survived in a mountain blizzard after abandoning my car (with three wheels hanging off a cliff) with an axe, two flashlights, a pack of gum and 5 packets of Hunt’s Ketchup!” Judy
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