Every 20 Years

So, I just did something I have not done for twenty years.

I was 16, and like most 16 year olds, I yearned to spend the summer hanging out at the beach with friends. Instead, thanks to my mom, I spent the summer mowing lawns and tending to flower beds. My mom volunteered my services to all of her friends and all of their friends. Now, my mom thought she was doing me a favor and, in retrospect, it was probably good for me, but I spent that summer despising every lawn I mowed and every weed I pulled. I swore I would never mow another lawn, and up until tonight I held true to my word.

Now, you may know that all the men of the house are either out of state or out of the country. You may also know that we live in the Midwest where we have seen lots of rain and hot weather--optimal weather for growing weeds, grass, plants, and other shrubbery. And you probably do not know this, but all of our neighbors are neat-freaks where landscaping is involved.

As I pulled in the driveway tonight, I noticed that our lawn was the bad seed of the neighborhood, so after dinner (a grilled chicken salad--homemade, not fast-food), I decided to drag the lawn mower out of the garage and fire it up.

The results? Mowing the lawn was not quite as bad as I recalled it to be. I really did not mind it at all. And I may even break out hedge trimmers and take care of the jungle in the back yard. Of course, the boys will be led to believe it almost killed me to mow the lawn.

I would not want to tarnish my Princess image, you know.

Comments

[Suzy]

I used to love mowing the lawn when I was in my teens. Until I got electrocuted by the lawnmower. In retrospect, mowing damp grass in bare feet may not have been the best idea I ever had!