Beware, for all donkeys have their own voices

and are not necessarily in tune

with your requests.  As the Secretary of the Donkeys’ Union, I had a great deal of opportunity to talk

with the donkeys….wee Angus shares my doubts and warns that even inner donkeys might kick at unexpected times.  The CPO

A model T Ford that cradled my unremembered baby time.  Parents claimed that the only way to shut me up was to drive somewhere.

The trucks my father bought and called his RED-LINE.

My 36 Ford bought in 1942–the one that the drunk ran up against and the whole district heard me swear!

The 36 Ford we found on the Island unwashed but going fine in 1949–and how I taught my husband how to drive (reversal of roles, not recommended for he swore at me when he made a mistake)  Surprise:  I stayed married to the man.

The little blue Prefect that couldn’t find its way around the big Lake–and both children decided that their mother was fallible.

The beautiful, two tone, wide winged V8 that took us to the prairie, over the mountains, through valleys and wheat fields.

The little camper-bus with its pop top under which my small son slept after dropping his dirty socks on his sister and me.  What a wonderful summer we had that year on the farm with the
aunts and uncles.

The pick-up truck with its cab-over camper that got the respect of the service mechanics when I drove in!  Small women who drive big trucks get more attention.

The perfect station wagon that crossed the continent with the trailer and only once over heated, that climbed the mountains with ease.  Even the distance from British Columbia to New York seemed easy then..

A big  black Chev that spent its last days with my nephew’s dogs in the hunting north.

A medium sized, no personality, practical car that lasted for years while we lived in the city because I didn’t like to drive through town and my sisters-in-law thought I was brave enough to do anything–just because I did the driving.

And finally my dear little Cherie, bright red and beautiful that  I sold when I came to a distant land where the driving was all on the wrong side of the road and I thought I was too old–twenty years ago.

on my desk and will provide you with any number of English

(or foreign for that matter) words meaning
excellent, pleasing, remarkable, splendid, ripping, admirable,
worthy, estimable, distinguished or even supreme.
In addition: Wee Angus is a good
tempered Scot but he threatens to bite a chunk out of any mere mortal
who dares to suggest that he is fantastic–
.

I’m tired of ye’r moaning and groaning
y ‘here, aboot that wee muse
that has gang fra here—so I’ve fetched ye
anither.  She’s not verra pretty
and been in a cupboard since
the ship first sailed….but dinna tell me
this one will disappear.

But Angus, dear Angus, how will we deal
with a muse so deflated?

Ah, told ye, that is so simple
we tak the poor lassie around to the door
of a real estate agent, he’s hot air galore
as our captain could tell ye
she’s heard a lot more
o that lately.
Besides this one has a whole bag
o words in her write paw
and a strange sort o drum
in her left.  I don’t mind her
sleeping under the bed
as long as she lets you do the spoutin’.

So that is the reason, you’ll find a rubber muse
standing beside the writing machine
in the CPO’s cabin and a small black dog
hunting all over the ship
a stock of RAM.