Jewells of Thought

Life is funny sometimes. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest right? I have some memories of Sunday afternoons dad, myself and my two younger brothers would be napping while watching a movie. This is when we lived in the trailer where my brother lives now. Mom would be outside and push mowing our grass. It was a conundrum to me at the time.

She didn’t do that every Sunday, but dad was supposedly watching us. For some odd reason the ripe old age of 9 seems to come at me, although I can’t be certain. I know we did start mowing early. Our introduction to mowing was when grandpa debuted a beautiful light blue zero turn mower. The name of the brand is now lost to me.

We call the acreage between my grandparent’s house and the new shed between our houses the ‘big yard’. I can remember watching my uncle’s mow, only they were using one of the tractors or the Fergusson. They got done mowing a bit quicker that way. It seems funny I remember seeing them or dad mowing the yard and it was much faster, but then once I got older and my brothers it became kind of our task. They only use a tractor when they get close enough to trim around the pond. Once they had their child labor they either they were happy to give it up or we just literally took it over.

Just a few years later I got my chance to learn how to drive, the Ferguson. It was awesome being able to use the bigger mower. However, it was short-lived, and no I was not the person who killed the machine. I was one of several people who had access to it in our family. That was really sad though, I enjoyed my time with the Ferguson.

One other very clear memory was when all of us grandkids were at our grandparents house. All of us older ones wanted to mow and we each got our turns. Grandpa and Grandma just made life special. Sometimes in the summer I would already be mowing the ‘big yard’ and I would see Papaw coming out of the house and walking past me into the shed behind me. Gosh… I can still so clearly see him taking that walk like it was yesterday, not 18 plus years ago. I very much miss him and so glad I have those little memories to hold on to.

Do you have any memorable mowing experiences? Like first starting to mow? What would life be without our interactions with those around us? Especially with those we love. My niece is nearly 11, but she’s tiny. I am pretty sure we were already on a mower by her age. We have been talking about getting her acquainted with the lawnmower. This may be a possibility very soon.