7 The Human Automobile.


The Human Automobile

We all have days when we feel staying in bed might be a good thing. Those days when you feel sure things are just not going to go the way you want them to. The older we get the more frequently this is the case. We are a bit like a vintage car.

As it gets older, the differential starts slipping, and the u-joints get worn, causing the drive shaft to go bad. The transmission will not go into high gear and sometimes has difficulty getting out of low. The cylinders get worn and lose compression, making it hard to climb the slightest incline. When it is climbing, the tappets clatter and ping to the point where one wonders if the old bus will make it to the top. 

The carburettor gets fouled with pollutants and other matter, making it hard to get started in the morning. It is hard to keep the radiator filled because of the leaking hose. The thermostat goes out, making it difficult to reach operating temperature. The headlights grow dim, and the horn gets weaker. The memory chip drops a few bytes, and the battery needs constant recharging. 

But if the body looks good with no bangs, dents or chipping paint, we can keep it washed and polished, giving the impression that it can compete with the newer models and make one more trip down the primrose lane before the head gasket blows. 

Instead of wishing to be protected from all unseemly things. Let us start up our engines. It is a fact that the more we use the old engine the more we manage to keep it running. 

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