Mowing Mum

Monday 19th December 2022

My mum used to mow our lawn at home. I have this vision in my mind of her concentrating with cigarette in hand, cable over her shoulder as she pushed straight lines across the front garden.  I can't remember how often she did it because we had some garden help too, but I remember her focusing so clearly and I wondered why she liked mowing. It was only many years later that I used a mower for the first time and I suddenly got what mum enjoyed about it. The vroom of the engine, and the gratification of neat lawn after a few steps...

My mum didn't drive a car so she'd never felt the control of power in that engine form. My tiny car has a turbo sound. I don't use it much because I leave it in automatic but if I switch it to Tiptronic and change the gear it has a high pitched whistle which used to give me a thrill,  lol.

Mum didn't fly many times either,  but I'm sure she loved the final approach to the runway when the engines fire up and then the throttle is released.... I sit and grin every time.

Today I bought out my sister's lawnmower and tackled her sloping back yard.  My head was sweating, the lines were uneven,  the thunder built up but I was smiling. I can feel the unusual movements in my arms now when I reach for something and a groan escapes. But my heart expanded at the thought of connecting with mum through the rumble of an engine.