THE INFERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
The adventures of a single mom with unreliable vehicles27 total reviews
Comment from Stacia Ann
Great image, Marisa, and great title, from one who has had her share of experiences with the "infernal combustion" engine.
From the beginning, however, you also make a social commentary on how society chooses to treat single moms--as less than, not deserving or needing reliable transportation. Good issue to raise. Good images and word play: "tires that resemble the slick and shiny posterior of a used car salesman."
Great work overall, managing to convey social commentary (why do the unscrupulous prey on poor people without money rather than exploiting those who do?) while remaining humorous.
Only nit I picked up: quotes are double (e.g., "doomed") in the U.S. except when quotes within quotes: (e.g. I said, "I am doomed to drive this joke of a 'car.'"
Thanks for sharing!
Stacia
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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Great image, Marisa, and great title, from one who has had her share of experiences with the "infernal combustion" engine.
From the beginning, however, you also make a social commentary on how society chooses to treat single moms--as less than, not deserving or needing reliable transportation. Good issue to raise. Good images and word play: "tires that resemble the slick and shiny posterior of a used car salesman."
Great work overall, managing to convey social commentary (why do the unscrupulous prey on poor people without money rather than exploiting those who do?) while remaining humorous.
Only nit I picked up: quotes are double (e.g., "doomed") in the U.S. except when quotes within quotes: (e.g. I said, "I am doomed to drive this joke of a 'car.'"
Thanks for sharing!
Stacia
Comment Written 31-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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I am pleased that you picked up on the social commentary in this piece.
Your review and comments are greatly appreciate. Also, thank you for you catch on the use of quotation marks.
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My pleasure! Glad if it helped.
Yes, I agree--transportation is an important social justice issue. Although most people might grudgingly agree that poor people need food and maybe medical care, they often fail to see adequate transportation as necessary to upward mobility.
Thanks again for sharing, and keep writing in the new year!
Stacia
Comment from pugdogy
I had to give this piece of work the big six. It was well written and the added touches of humor made the reading enjoyable. I can relate to this story as I raised my beautiful daughter on my own as a single mother. She is grown now but I wouldn't change how close we are for the world, some of this closeness came from adventures that we lved through like those in your story.
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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I had to give this piece of work the big six. It was well written and the added touches of humor made the reading enjoyable. I can relate to this story as I raised my beautiful daughter on my own as a single mother. She is grown now but I wouldn't change how close we are for the world, some of this closeness came from adventures that we lved through like those in your story.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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There is a closeness and special bond that does seem to develop between single moms and their children. The adventures, as you say, do tend to bind us to them.
I am so happy that you enjoyed this piece and I thank you sincerely for the generous rating.
Comment from c_lucas
It may be to the good to compare cab fare to repair bill. It's difficult to function without the benefit of a properly running car. Good work.
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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It may be to the good to compare cab fare to repair bill. It's difficult to function without the benefit of a properly running car. Good work.
Comment Written 31-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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This is so true. However, I was unable to afford cab fare at the time, but I did make frequent use of the good old city bus. As inefficient as it was it did manage to get me there and back.
Fortunately, for many years now I have owned newer vehicles that do not have these kinds of problems.
Thank so much for your review and comments, I always appreciate both.
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I used the foot method --Ford - left &-- Chevolet - right. I was without a car for several years.
Comment from w0manp0et
Hi Marisa,
I was a single mom too, and I remember those days well. Pay the rent? Get the car fixed? The rent won, and we walked many, many miles.
Ah well, those things that don't kill us certainly do make us tougher!
I enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!
Ciao,
WP
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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Hi Marisa,
I was a single mom too, and I remember those days well. Pay the rent? Get the car fixed? The rent won, and we walked many, many miles.
Ah well, those things that don't kill us certainly do make us tougher!
I enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!
Ciao,
WP
Comment Written 31-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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So nice connect with another single mom and know that you truly get this piece. I had a good support group of other single moms at the time all of this was going on, so I never felt alone in my plight. We all helped one another through so pretty tough times.
Thank you for share a bit of your story with me.
Comment from Titanx9
You did a great job with this satirical piece. Yes, I agree there's nothing like abject poverty or a streak of severe need to make one appreciate the good things and times. It wouldn't be a bad thing for most families to allow their kids to experience "need" and not secure the items for them in order to make them better people. I like your author notes and am happy that hard times were just a bump in the road in your journey. May 2013 be your best year ever. Happy New Year!
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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You did a great job with this satirical piece. Yes, I agree there's nothing like abject poverty or a streak of severe need to make one appreciate the good things and times. It wouldn't be a bad thing for most families to allow their kids to experience "need" and not secure the items for them in order to make them better people. I like your author notes and am happy that hard times were just a bump in the road in your journey. May 2013 be your best year ever. Happy New Year!
Comment Written 31-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2012
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Thanks for you wonderful and kind review.
These experiences happened to me many years ago. I managed to pull through it all and the kids did too. I have two grown children that are doing very well in life and they are pretty resilient as well.
Comment from mauial
Enjoyed this very much and it kind of reminded me of when I saw my wife to be one day soaking wet with her son standing beside her beater. It made my heart melt. I knew her from church. Anyway she tells me that it was the perfect moment for her because we got married 9 months later and have been married for 32 years. We got rid of the beater the day we married :)
reply by the author on 30-Dec-2012
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Enjoyed this very much and it kind of reminded me of when I saw my wife to be one day soaking wet with her son standing beside her beater. It made my heart melt. I knew her from church. Anyway she tells me that it was the perfect moment for her because we got married 9 months later and have been married for 32 years. We got rid of the beater the day we married :)
Comment Written 30-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 30-Dec-2012
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That is the sweetest story ever! And one good example of an upside to a 'beater' being the catalyst for a loving relationship.
Thank you for share this wonderful story with me.
Comment from TOMORAL
Been there, done that. I have always driven slightly used cars and some were real doozies. I enjoyed this story as it took me back to the not so good old days. I actually drive a 14 year old volvo now and thank heavens it is a good car. excellent!
reply by the author on 30-Dec-2012
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Been there, done that. I have always driven slightly used cars and some were real doozies. I enjoyed this story as it took me back to the not so good old days. I actually drive a 14 year old volvo now and thank heavens it is a good car. excellent!
Comment Written 30-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 30-Dec-2012
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I don't drive these unpredictable vehicles anymore, but it was an interesting challenge back when the kids were small and money was rare.
The situation now, from the rear-view mirror, has humor to it that I did not find at the time.
I enjoyed your review and I am glad that you liked the piece.
Comment from Deniz22
Wow! Glad this experience is (presumably) behind you! You have been able to lace a bitter drink with humor for the benefit of your readers. You write very well, in my humble opinion. I like this line best: " Even the homeless would pass it by as not being a viable place to crash for the night." That had to hurt! I've had more than my share of these cars and it makes me appreciate, first and foremost, that it actually runs in a day to day reliable way. Looks are only tin deep in this case. Good going!
reply by the author on 29-Dec-2012
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Wow! Glad this experience is (presumably) behind you! You have been able to lace a bitter drink with humor for the benefit of your readers. You write very well, in my humble opinion. I like this line best: " Even the homeless would pass it by as not being a viable place to crash for the night." That had to hurt! I've had more than my share of these cars and it makes me appreciate, first and foremost, that it actually runs in a day to day reliable way. Looks are only tin deep in this case. Good going!
Comment Written 29-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 29-Dec-2012
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This is most definitely behind me by many years. I have had new and well running vehicles for many moons now. It was at the time when my kids were small that all these challenges came about. Not so funny then, but in retrospect, they make pretty funny stories now.
Happy you read the piece and I enjoyed your comments.
Comment from sweetwoodjax
this is very well written, marisa, you did an excellent job writing this cute story about the tantrums that cars can have, i enjoyed reading it, it made me smile....
reply by the author on 29-Dec-2012
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this is very well written, marisa, you did an excellent job writing this cute story about the tantrums that cars can have, i enjoyed reading it, it made me smile....
Comment Written 29-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 29-Dec-2012
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The humor was what I was going for and I am very glad you liked the piece.
Comment from MumEsGirl
Hard times make survivors of us all. I enjoyed this well written description of the ultimate unreliable vehicle. I think all single women have met the dodgy mechanic who wants to replace the engine when you bring the car in for a puncture repair.
hugs
kate
reply by the author on 29-Dec-2012
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Hard times make survivors of us all. I enjoyed this well written description of the ultimate unreliable vehicle. I think all single women have met the dodgy mechanic who wants to replace the engine when you bring the car in for a puncture repair.
hugs
kate
Comment Written 29-Dec-2012
reply by the author on 29-Dec-2012
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I am thrilled that you liked this bit of venting satire of mine. I had my share of challenges for years with unreliable vehicles and as you say 'dodgy' mechanics.
