?!

I’ve made comments in the past about my excitement for mowing the lawn, but I think that I’ve had a change of heart since the mowing season began.

People who know me fairly well know that I’m much different from the norm. In fact, as I was thinking about this today, I didn’t really experience the normal “coming of age” events like the stereotypical person does. Things like “the first kiss”, “the first true love”, “moving away for college”, “graduating college”, etc. have been different for me than how it seems to go for everyone else.

I really think that I became an adult when I bought my house. It was my first real, substantial demonstration of my independance as a person, although my parents might say that I’ve demonstrated this for much longer. I mean, really, until that point I had been living with my parents, and although I’ve been fairly-well employed for many years, I didn’t really have any substantial responsibilities. 

I bought my house in December of last year, so maintenance around the home was minimal, especially outdoors. So the first few months kept me in the dark with regards to how much work really goes into maintaining this place.

As the seasons changed, my lawn started to grow. And by “grow,” I mean that it was a complete jungle before I realized that it was even Spring. I realized that I couldn’t procrastinate any further, and I went and bought a lawn mower to tame the growth. When I bought the mower, or Little Red, as I call her, I made the comment that I felt like I had become an old man. I still stand by that comment – when you have officially purchased your first lawn mower for your own home, you are officially an old man.

This put me in the dumps. I’m not very old, age wise, but all of a sudden I was an old man. Even so, the lawn continued to grow back every week, and Little Red and I continued to address the issue. Over the Spring and Summer, we became quite close. But after mowing the lawn yesterday, Little Red and I have an even stronger bond.

Somehow, even in my sweaty discomfort, I grew to appreciate the clean, fresh look of a newly cut lawn. I didn’t really notice this, though, until yesterday. I always made sure that my rows were nice and straight, with a special emphasis on ensuring that I left no stray blades behind. But I didn’t really feel “good” about the whole process. Not that I felt bad, either. It was more of a neutral thing.

When I finished yesterday, I felt entirely satisfied, as if I had completed some large masterpiece for all to see. While the neighbors all have leaves strewn across their yards, mine is bright and green. While other yards have tall, uneven grass, mine is nicely cut into neat rows. I don’t have anything against the other yards, but I actually feel happier now than I did the day before, as if mowing the lawn had some euphoric side-effect not yet known to mankind.

Now, when I think about this, I’m not sure if this is completely a good thing. To an extent I’m glad that I’ve ended the mowing season on a high note, but what if it doesn’t carry through to next Spring? Then what? Or, what if this is the plateau that I am stuck at forever? Or, what if I get addicted to the euphoric feeling and become OCD about mowing the lawn?

Hmm…