Fun In The Green

This afternoon I watched two of the Youthbuild guys mow the grass here at Elder House.  That was always a son's job when I was growing up.  My brothers, when deemed responsible and old enough, pushed power mowers around.  It did not look like fun.  I'm not a big fan of sweat; so not being allowed to cut the grass never felt like a loss.

But these guys...clearly they were having a blast.  They use riding mowers.  They stand on a tiny platform in the back of the machine and zoom around so fast the wheels actually squeal.  They drove over the same patch of front grass six (SIX!) times.  Not once did they crash into each other or the many hazard railings or the bricks surrounding the dogwood tree.

The weed whacker guy followed behind and trimmed all the tight, and I imagine, cranky places.  He also had to cross the street and trim near the curb stops in the parking lot.  The weed whacker has to be carried, does not make anywhere near the  "go fast"noise of the power mowers, and does not possess squealing wheels.

Still, when the job was completed and all the equipment parked; the three of them passed around a can of ice tea, admired the green, green lawn and said,  "Damn now!  That's flat!"