IF 'Packed'

This week's Illustration Friday prompt is 'Packed.' So I packed the trunk of this car I drew, with all the emergency supplies I could think of and packed in some 'nice to haves' too - like a six-pack of soda, a pack of cards and packs of gum, though those are so little, they're hard to see in there. Anything else I could think of, is packed away in the suitcase or boxes...I like drawing boxes, they could be full of anything imaginable...like chocolate. Or art supplies. Or Johnny Depp movies. Which I guess wouldn't be very practical to have in there, but more fun to imagine than emergency supplies...

Though maybe because I've been going through our own pantry supplies lately, or maybe because I recently found out September is National Preparedness Month, this is the image that kept popping up.  Even though, plainly, cars are not my usual subject matter - they're not usually the first (or the fifth or even the fiftieth) thing that comes to mind for me, when drawing -- but the image kept insisting, so I finally gave in to it. It's good to try new things every once in awhile, and though I was a Girl Scout more years ago than I like to admit to, I still remember the motto -- it's also good to be prepared.

Just like it took me years to grasp the concept - that my grandfather tried and tried to get across to me - that it's just as easy to keep the gas tank on the 'F" as it is on the 'E' (just think of that half tank mark as being the 'empty' mark instead -- Papa, you'd be so proud of me - I think I've finally got it! well most of the time...) -- I used to think having an emergency supply of food, meant that I had to have a bunch of money to go out and buy some sort of extra special, readymade supply package, all at once.

Then in my middle ages, it finally dawned on me, that I could build up the supply a little at a time - just buying an extra package of spaghetti or can  of soup that was on sale, whatever I was already buying at the store that week, anyway. That way, not only is it less expensive than buying some extra-special gizmo package (though I'm not knocking them - if you can afford 'em, those can be very handy), but this way I also know it's something we would enjoy eating. And when food prices keep on rising, it actually ends up saving a little money in the long run, since the can you're buying is at today's sale price, not next week's potentially higher price.

Plus, emergencies come in all sizes, you know - big and little teeny tiny ones. It's always good to have an extra couple of cans of noodle-o's, in case the grandgirls stay an extra day - or an extra jar or three, of spaghetti sauce, in case someone stops by unexpectedly. Stuff gets naturally used and rotated that way too - instead of a big old pack of stuff that we never use, that just sits there taking up space and getting more and more outdated, we just have a reasonably well-stocked pantry.

Though we keep most of our extra supplies in the cupboard, I've been thinking it might be a good idea to have some packed up in the car, too.We do have water in the car, and a small emergency first aid kit, but not much else...It gets too hot here to really keep canned goods or anything that might melt in the car long-term, but it would be good to maybe have some other packaged or dehydrated something-or-others in there...though I do always wonder about the potential usefulness of dehydrated items in a situation where you need every drop of water for drinking, and here you have this package that requires extra water* just to become edible...but I can't think of anything else that wouldn't explode or go bad, staying in there. What do you keep in your car? Any suggestions?

Hopefully, none of us will ever really need the extra supplies - but as we do live in potential shake & bake country -- which is easy to forget most of the time, since (thankfully!) we don't really have a 'season' for it, the way Mother Nature has a season for so many other things.

But eating never goes out of season - so even if we don't feel the earth move under our feet anytime soon (and I hope we don't - where's some wood to knock on?), it's not like the extra will go to waste - just maybe the waistline. As they say, a waist is a terrible thing to mind...I have no idea why I just added that line, other than it seemed like this post wasn't quite packed enough.... 

*Speaking of extra water - ironically, while talking on the phone, just before posting this, I discovered one of my water jugs was cracked towards the top with a slow leak. Yikes! They don't make plastic like they used to... I was so sorry I had to quickly end the fun phone conversation that I was having with wonderful warrior woman Tammy to go clean up the puddle...thanks so much, Tammy - it was so good to hear from you - take good care of you - I look forward to us chatting again soon. This blogging world sure is a wonderful thing, where you meet amazing people you might not otherwise ever run into...If you haven't met Tammy online, check out her blog - she's an amazing, inspiring lady with a sense of humor, who battles ALS everyday - and she's walking for the cause too!

Comments

[Pacian]

I used to feel kind of paranoid keeping a few cans of soup and two litre bottles of mineral water around the house, especially in a country with NO natural dangers at all beyond flooding in a few areas.

And then I sprung a leak and had to turn the water off at the mains.

It is good to be prepared. >:-|

[indigene]

This is a fabulous drawing, and I love the texture and story it inspires!

http://indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

[gemma]

If you are living right you can fit anything (no everything) you need in there :-)

[beryl singleton bissell]

For close to 30 years I've been lugging around cases of freeze dried foods purchased while a widow with two small children facing run-away inflation. My hubby calls them Beryl's War Supplies.

And at this moment I am packing and repacking my bags for Italy. We leave on Sunday and I keep thinking of things we will need, and then changing my mind. I used to know how to pack light.

[Sioux]

I love your illo of "packed". And the thoughts on being prepared. We must all take seriously the idea of preparedness!

[elsa]

a very warm, heartfelt hello to you tinker. this packed post was fun to read- i agree, i also just grab an extra of something for "storage" when shopping although there are somethings i like to buy in bulk.
even though you have not heard from me, i think of you often and have been visiting. i will email you soon. BIGLOVE, elsa

[Connie Martin]

This packed post made me laugh! I like the drawing and know for certain you are going to need the tools at the very back of the trunk. That's life, so maybe you better have a reserve set of tools in the front seat.

[Caroline]

What a great drawing!

And speaking of puddles... I keep on having to clear them up... I wish they were just water too! ;-)

[carmen]

ayayyyyy!
I tend to think only of food when it is time to pack, I wonder why? LOL
(LOVE TO EAT) te-hee!
I read Tammy's blog!
and yes blogging is wonderful way to educate ourselves in a lot of ways specifically on being kind and compassionate.
Or to come to enjoy some lovely talented lady who draws beautiFULLY and yes, with this drawing absoultely get the message on preparedness and love how you did the links for disasters (knock on wood)
love to you!
Carmen

[Alison Whittington]

Tinker, I love this illustration! You know, my favorite part about the Little Engine That Could was the part where they describe all the magical stuff packed on the train. It just seemed so full of possibilities.

I don't keep our emergency supplies in the car, but we get a bit of warning with hurricanes, at least.