Lost in space

When my grandchildren were just sprouts I owned a 1986 maroon Nissan Stanza. I kept it for almost 14 years and towards the end of its run, when rust began to appear hear and there, I printed "USS Tin Can" on the door in white paint.

The afore mentioned sprouts traveled with me often and the "Tin Can" evolved into our own personal space ship. I, being the driver, was captain. "Big Al" rode shotgun and, with junk from the car, fashioned an "intercom" which he used to deliver orders to the three girls in the back. Their job was to zap aliens. Aliens were anyone who didn't have a Vermont license plate and as we cruised through the town and countryside at warp 8, all out of staters became, without exception, toast!

The kids are growing up fast and the "Tin Can" is long gone, but the memory of sound effects and young laughter ramains.