The Slice: Rust never sleeps

Tara Leininger filed this report from up in Metaline Falls.

“When it comes to the sounds we older people make – groaning getting out of a chair, the creaks when we roll out of bed, et cetera – there is nothing that matches the sound of old age like my truck.”

She continued. “My little Chevy S10 is now 15 years old. She’s got some small rusty areas, and when you get in she definitely makes some settling sounds, a reflection on my weight perhaps. But she got Donivan and I laughing the other day.

“Every so often, the doors start to make a creaking sound that would frighten a haunted house. We both opened the doors at the same time and both of us groaned as we stood, stiff after almost two hours in the truck on the drive down to Spokane.

“Creaky truck, creaky people … a little WD40 takes care of the truck doors, but there isn’t much that will take care of our joints.”

Three dog morning: After The Slice requested pictures of pets on the bed, a number of readers shared scenes from the home front. Here’s one from Fritz Stout.

“Thought you might enjoy this shot of Maggie and our yellow Labs. This is an everyday occurrence as Maggie reads The S-R and has a couple of cups of coffee. People who own dogs and don’t allow this kind of thing should seriously question their motivations for having pets.”

Slice answer: “Your question about how acquaintances word their surprise that you are still employed at the same place touched a nerve,” wrote Shelley Davis. “I’ve worked for the same optometrist for nearly 28 years. In the past year or so, I’ve had several (more than I can count on one hand) long-time patients say ‘You’re not retired yet?’ Ouch. I just turned 61, I color my gray, and am told that I look much younger than I am. So what’s the deal? I just hope I can keep smiling at that question for the next 4 1/2 years.”

When he was a little boy: Tomas Lynch’s grandmother had a Griswold iron skillet, adorned with a “G” on the handle. “I always assumed it meant ‘Grandma.’ ”

Today’s Slice question: In what category does Spokane lead the nation?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Frank Sinatra recorded “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” on this date in 1955.