ADVENTURES IN MOWING

August here on Waverly Lane has been hot, humid, stormy, and rainy - all conditions favoring the growth of nature's selected grasses, weeds, native seedling trees - everything but what you planted in June, which is shoulder-deep in thick masses of unwanted wild growth.

In order to keep pace with the green invasion, Husband and I set out on our personal lawn-mowing equipment:  the Cub Cadet (me), and the Toro Zero Turn (Husband).  He sits proudly ensconced between his steering levers as a king on a throne holding two scepters, while I sally forth on the "regular guy" Cub Cadet.  I notice a "sound" coming from my mower deck and get taken to task for mowing too close and bending something.  After his stern lecture, in which he belittles my competency and also defames my noble vehicle as a piece of "*#@!," we resume our work.

After an interval, I notice Husband is on foot beckoning me over and preparing for censure, I conclude I've done something else wrong.  This time, however, he is unusually smiling and pleasant as he asks me to pull him out of the deep ditch that outlines our side of Waverly Lane.  On arriving it was obvious Husband had tried gambling another dangerous edge and lost.

An Unusually Pleasant Husband 

Being Rescued While Wearing

His Biblical Slogan Tee Shirt

We hooked the Cub Cadet to the Zero Turn, in spite of their previous animosities (see wildonwaverlylane.blogspot.com/2011/10/dueling-in-sun.html) and go on with our mowing.

After the lawn is trimmed and beautiful, there was gratitude, and conciliation, and a little tear or two from the wind heron, who was overcome by humidity.

Zero Turn:

"Thanks for Pulling Me Out and You're Not a Piece of #@*!"

Cub Cadet:  "You're OK, if no one else is available."

(Sniff, blubber) "If Only a Group Hug Were Possible!"

I 

FAMILY PLAN

As parents, Husband and I have been described as unstructured slackers and even delinquency contributing bad examples.  We humbly admit that in steering the family ship of state, we have had our share of dragging bottom.  But all's well that ends well, if it ever does end.

Our Three Endure Hardships to Accomplish a

Cross-Country Family Experience (1977)

In spite of our shortcomings, we behold our three offspring and can only feel happy and thankful, whatever their present circumstances, to have them in our fold and their friends too.

Baby Sis, Middle Sis, and Their Friends

Cathy and Judy

At our recent get together, we were joined by several of their friends and listened to reminiscences of times past.  We got step-by-step how to manually strangle a cheating spouse; how to enjoy the ambiance of a gay resort though heterosexual; how to survive a reckless driving ticket (82mph in a 45mph zone...and you thought that would go unnoticed?); how to deal with mentally-compromised adult trick-or-treaters who show up a day early at your house way back in the woods.  Those are just a few highlights.  You had to be there holding your sides laughing!

 There Were Lots of Good Stories

Time and again people tell us that is is rare for families to want to be together, to want to help each other, and to truly show their pride in each other.  Even though we know we made missteps in parenting, Husband and I love what has resulted.

The Three Sisters

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDSON SAM

Happy seventeenth birthday to you and your dimples!

Remember when you came into the world and found yourself

wearing a weird little hat from Finland?  I do.

Remember when they outfitted you like Kareem Abdul

and got you a little guy plastic goal?  I do.

Remember when they took you to baseball games

and you ate it up?  I do.

The playground was fun, I know you remember that.

I do.

Some amusements made you light up that
didn't involve a ball.  I remember that.

You always enjoyed outdoors, the clipping, the cutting. 

I remember.

Most of all I remember that sunny sweet smile and
those dimples.  I do.