DEAR ABBY: I must respond to "Bent Out of Shape in San Francisco." At age 14, I learned how easy it is to warm up a car. However, after 10 years of marriage, I still can't figure out how to warm up my wife.
As for the comparison between woman and machine: My car always starts when I want, does what I want, as often as I want. In return, I keep "her" clean, polished and properly maintained. I never ask "her" to do anything beyond "her" limits. I accept "her" shortcomings as character and style.
I would give my wife's battery a charge if I could find it, but she isn't talking and I'm still looking. -- PROPERLY TUNED AND MAINTAINED, SPRINGFIELD, MO.
DEAR PROPERLY TUNED: Keep looking. Sometimes the search is more fun than the discovery.