Thursday, July 20, 2017

MOWING THE LAWN

Ah, the sweet smell of newly mowed grass ... it always gets to me....
It brings back memories of our lawn after Daddy mowed it. My older sister got to mow it sometimes, and then, finally, I was allowed to push the lawn mower. It was fun. It was hard to get the mower rolling, but wow, once I got it going I didn't want to stop -- I loved making a pathway in the grass.

A twig got stuck in the cutter blades. I had to figure out how to get it unstuck. Almost immediately, it  happened again, and again -- twigs, pebbles, more twigs.

With all the stopping and starting, mowing became a big chore. I was glad when my sister told me, "You aren't strong enough to mow the lawn, Em."

Even so, that sweet-sweet smell -- it meant summer, no school, long days with me free to do whatever I was in the mood to do.

Free -- what a feeling -- that feeling as if every day were Sunday. It made me aware of time passing quickly, grass re-growing, needing to be mowed, which meant soon -- too soon -- the summer would end and the wonderful green would turn yellow and brown.

Yes, newly-mowed grass means green, sun, sweat, blue sky, sleepy wonderful freedom. I no longer remember who said I had to learn to rake it up. Raking the remnants wasn't fun -- fun was in the precious, sweet smell.

I got too-too busy and didn't see or smell any grass for a long time.

Now, I never see newly mowed grass except in television ads. Even so, I remember -- oh my yes -- I do remember, that sweet, sweet, sweet smell and it still gives me a powerful feeling that has to do with loving nature for giving us the gift of grass -- taking it away -- giving it back to us every summer.

2 comments:

Carola said...

I hated it when I had to mow the lawn. It was too hard. (Back in the day of hand mowers.)

Sarah K from twitter ♥️ said...

After we moved from rural NY to urban Florida, I thought I'd never smell freshly mowed grass again....until yesterday! Driving home on the same route I always take, my husband and I both picked up the familiar scent. I had thought Florida grew some different type of grass that didn't smell, but there it was! Then just this morning I read your post, Em. Great coincidence!