My mowing life cuts to the chase

It was one of those aha moments.

The simultaneous realization that I really missed the physical workout of mowing my yard, with the realization that summer grass grows much faster here than the yard guy can keep up.

So…presto! Problem solved.

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Of course, there’s a story.

Like most adult males in America, I mowed the yard growing up. So did my siblings. Once a kid turns 12, that’s his job until he leaves the state.

I can’t say I liked it much. It’s not like I graduated into my adult years eager for the next level of lawn mowing.

That attitude changed when I moved into what we later affectionately called Just Wright Citrus World Headquarters on the shores of Big Lake Henderson. That place had two good-sized yards and plenty of outdoors to explore.

I really got into yard maintenance. Mowed regularly. Bought a sickle (the first of many) to hack out difficult weeds.

I came home one evening to find a tree limb across the driveway. It wouldn’t budge, so off I went to Lowe’s for…an axe. Yeah, no chainsaw for me. (Probably the best decision during my drinking years of all time.)

I brought that axe home and had about an hour of daylight. I was able to cut the limb up enough to get it out of the way. Man, I tell ya what…swingin’ an axe…that’s a decent workout on every part of the body that could possibly hurt 12 hours later.

And I couldn’t wait to do it again.

That’s how it was for 18 years. I truly enjoyed the outdoor labor. I switched mowing from rider to push and back to rider again. I prefer a push mower for the exercise, but a decent rider is just a fun way to mow the yard, right?

As for these turn-on-a-dime deals, no thanks. Too precise. Mowing should always have an element of that one blade that got away.

I’ve been in World Headquarters III since October. It comes with exceptional yard service which, until just recently, I never gave a second thought. 

Then, the summer rains came. And grass that grew at a somewhat leisurely pace suddenly sprouted upward toward the sunlight after each storm. 

I had a challenge. Tall grass and I don’t get along. Plus, I’ve had an inkling lately of swinging a sickle once again. My body could certainly use some yard work.

So, I went lawnmower shopping. 

I had a strategy: Buy a used push mower. Again…the lawn service is awesome, so I’m only filling the summertime gaps. Don’t need bells and whistles for that.

It didn’t look promising. The places I checked had sold their used mowers before the rainy season started.

I really didn’t want a new mower. One, obviously, the price. The other is I’d have to assemble it, and that’s simply not something mankind wants to see occur. Don’t tell me about YouTube videos that explain it; unless there’s a video that will tell me how to find someone to assemble the lawn mower, I want to avoid the subject.

I was just about to give in when I drove past the Habitat ReStore on S.R. 44 in Crystal River and saw a single push mower sitting out front.

Perfect! Hundred bucks to Habitat, and I have a mower. It runs just fine, and with the not-so-hot Wednesday morning, I mowed the back yard.

Mowing is a time of solitude. An hour of prayer. I also yell at a lot of people in my head while mowing, so it's therapy, as well.

I'll be smart. Wear a hat in the sun, no mowing in 95-degree heat, take plenty of breaks, and drink lots of ice-cold Coca-Cola. Ha! Got ya! I know it should be Pepsi.

Feels good mowing again. It’s where I belong.

Have a wonderful Thursday, friends.

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