I Mow, Therefore I Am

I'm not sure how old I was when I started to help mow our yard back on the farm – maybe 11 or 12?  

My sister and brothers before me would mow our yard and our two great aunts' yards across the field from us. At some point, though, it was just me mowing three pretty large yards. I didn't mind it so much, except for mowing around tractors, barns, sheds and cats ... and what cats would leave behind!  And my aunts, who were more like grandmothers to us, always paid us. Back in the '70s, that was $10+ as well as treats and hugs – more than fair compensation. 

Mowing can be frustrating. Namely getting the dang lawnmower to start sometimes. But I liked mowing and looking back at the neat and noticeable difference in the yard. Even so, I didn't want to do it any more often than I did, so I tended to mow low!  To the point that my dad would say, "I appreciate you doing this, Sal, but you're cuttin' it pretty close and scalping the yard." 

He was impressed, however, when I surprised him by saving my summer job money to purchase a McCullough weed trimmer.  They were kind of new back then, and I loved being able to do a better job trimming with it.  

My husband and son are pleased that I still like to mow! Our yard is so easy in comparison to what I used to do. Even with a basic lawnmower, I can mow our yard and trim it in about 45 minutes – maybe less than that since we bought a self-propelled mower a couple years ago after more knee surgeries for me.  

Basically, though, I 've been mowing for about 50 years! I think I especially like it because it's outside, it's exercise, and I can daydream a bit. But mainly, though, it is a continuum in my life. Some tasks are a positive connection to our past, a grounding of sorts and just plain satisfying.  

My husband and son will mow if needed, but frankly, I do a much better job than they do anyway.  I'll gladly keep this up as long as I can and leave a lot of the bill paying and other paperwork to Tom! 

I do a variety of tasks and activities that are satisfying and more important than cutting the grass, but there is simple contentment for me that often comes to mind when I'm walking behind the mower on the freshly cut grass:   I mow, therefore I am ... and I'm good with that.  

I wonder what tasks or activities others have where they might feel they could say, "I ______ ,  therefore I am ... and I'm good with that."   

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Sally Troutman Boyd hails from Ethel, Mo., and is proud of her small town roots – even pleased that her hometown’s name gets a chuckle and becomes a conversation starter. Despite living in St. Louis for the past 30+ years, much of her remembrances and writings come from growing up on a farm in the '60s and '70s. She's now retired after spending the majority of her career in nonprofit fundraising for individuals with developmental disabilities.

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