Lawn Order

You’d think that in a household with three lawn mowers, the lawn would almost be afraid to grow. Not so at my house. None of the mowers are new, but the one that works best and most reliably is the oldest model, which, according to some paperwork, first appeared about fifty years ago. Amazingly, the old one still has most of the original parts.

My neighbors probably get a kick out of watching the old clunker, sputtering and wheezing while traversing the lawn, week after week. The newer models run a bit faster, but don’t cut as well. It’s as if they can’t wait to finish, but it’s not like they have something else to do.

Of the three mowers, all the same brand, only the old one is self-propelled. The newer ones are a lot sleeker and are equipped with lots of electronic gadgets (like ipods and cellphones), but they’re not very fuel-efficient and they're really hard to start. Riding the newer ones isn’t an option either, so they have to be pushed - gently.

The situation isn’t likely to improve. The three of us are getting older - my sons and I. Maybe someday soon they’ll have their own lawns, and at least until they have kids, they’ll be the ONLY mower in their household.