The Girl Who Mowed Too Little

I know , I couldn't resist the title considering the topic of my story.

One ordinary evening I was on the phone, having a great conversation and a glass of red wine, when I heard the loud noise of a lawn mower. Now ordinarily this would not be strange, however it around 8:30 pm and dark and considering the length of my grass it was a sound that I was not accustomed to. I moved into my new house two months ago and have been pondering the problem of lawn maintenance. Do I mow my own lawn? Do I hire someone to do it? Let's revise those questions. I don't mow lawns. Yes, I have mowed lawns in the past so I am not some hapless female who cannot work a lawnmower. Do I want to mow the lawn? Hell no!! It is hot and humid here in North Carolina and I can afford to have someone come in and take care of the lawn. I wash my own car; that is good enough!!! So back to the questions. Who do I get to take of the lawn? This question crosses my mind as I pull into the house, and then the question leaves my mind as I close the door. The question arises again when I see the lawn, growing so lush and tall, and then I forget the question and the problem when I close the door. The true problem is not the lawn it is me remembering to make the phone call.

So when I heard the sound of the lawn mower so close I peeked out my back window not really expecting to see any machinery cutting my lawn. But I did. There was a man in a yellow shirt, waving at me with one hand and mowing the lawn with the other. The first thing I thought was, "Thank God I am dressed," and then, "Who the hell is that mowing my lawn?" and then "Was my grass THAT long?".

Staying on the phone, I stepped outside and introduced myself to this mysterious, yet very benevolent character. I hoped benevolent, and not malevolent, otherwise my friend on the other end of the phone would be making a different kind of phone call. The mystery man turned off the mower and I, with a curious but somewhat friendly manner, asked, " Ummm. Hi, and you are....?" He, still with the big grin and hand on his prized mower, said that he was the next door neighbor. Apparently, he had been negligent mowing his own lawn as well and while he was at it had decided to do mine. His wife brings me food and now he mows my lawn. I am still struck by their kindness.

Now my lawn is mowed!!!! I am now wondering how I can make this a regular thing!!! Is that selfish? I have another month's reprieve to figure out what I want to do with the lawn. Maybe I'll forget to phone as I close the door.