It started life in the early 30's as my mother's original washing machine.

In the later 30's it went into drydock when my father bought a washing machine on time from Gassinger's.

In the early 40's it became my bathtub after I grew too big for the kitchen sink plus it was also my kiddie pool during hot summers in Baltimore.

By the early 50's I could no longer sit in it but it still worked fine for my toy boats on muggy August days and as a wash tub for my pet Brownie, a mutt of no pedigree but full of love for all.

In the late fifties it was filled with ice and soda for my teenage parties in our cellar.

By the 60's I had learned my way around a grill so it was put on duty as the holder of ice and quarter kegs for my backyard rib BBQs and crab feasts.

By the 70's it had developed an unrepairable hole so I filled it with dirt and planted a small pine tree in it. For the next few years it was always the center of attraction at Christmas time as the only festively lit tree in our Baltimore row house alley.

In the 80's I moved away and never saw it again but I still have fond memories of my galvanized friend.

Talk about pint sized.