I got those low down, mopping water, Monday morning wash machine blues

Almost a year ago my washing machine started to lose its bearings. I first noticed the noise. My nearly new washing machine began to rumble-grumble like an antique steam tractor. The agitator sounded agitated. The spin cycle cycled like a dervish. Once it got up to speed the quivering machine tried to buck out of its stall in the laundry room. I did my due diligence, made phone calls, talked with washer repairmen who told me the bearings were going kaput.

Sondra Ashton

"But it's only six years old," I protested.

"Oh, well, yeah, plastic bearings. You know. Plastic."

So I asked the repairman, "...