The Empirical Manifesto

As usual, I wish I'd taken a "before" shot so you could see for yourself the veritable jungle it was. The weather is cool and breezy without being windy. It won't be that way for long so I'm sure going to take advantage of it now.

My son recently expressed interest in mowing the lawn. I shrugged it off and told him he could mow the lawn when he could start the mower. His mother laughed and said, "Once you do, it will probably be your responsibility," echoing my own childhood mowing adventures. I nodded in silent agreement.

Later, it dawned on me that just because my father never mowed the lawn again once I did didn't mean that I had to do the same with my son. Maybe I'll edge and weed while he mows? Maybe we'll take turns? Maybe it will be completely different where we work cooperatively in the yard. We do many other things together, why not this?

As stated before, I've discovered that many of the judgments I have about things come not from careful analysis and separating fact from feeling, but stem from a default societal view. I therefore react accordingly to new concepts with which I am faced, and would honestly remain so unless challenged. I understand now - empirically of course - that this statement requires an addendum: defaults may also include how you yourself were raised, no matter where they fall in or out of societal norms.

Challenge of ideas absolutely must preceded questioning our views; were it not so we wouldn't know what to question, or when. I don't have to raise my children like my father raised me. And if I can so easily learn something so different than my default just from the issue making itself known on the small things - for this is surely inconsequential in the big scheme of things - it fills me with confidence that I will be able to also tackle the big things as they arise.

Nothing but greatness can come from this.

Much like Lot's wife, or just lots of salt, having a corner lot is lot of extra effort, and that's a lot of lots, which I first discovered two weekends ago.

It just so happened that the next-door neighbor has a lush, dark-green lawn of something akin to crab grass. Understandably he mows it "high" that is to say only evens up the very tips of the sultry waves to create an even, flowing effect.

This is not Texas grass, and my mower was set to "scalp." My first pass cut through the earth like an open wound. After several height adjustments, I was finally able to finish the expansive lawn - at least compared to my postage-stamp lot in Anna. But that was only the beginning, and at 107-degrees, also the easiest part of my day.

I had purchased something which resembled this replacement head at the local hardware store for $20 in hopes it would ease the damage I inflict each week on my aging carcass - especially since my new Poulan Pro has never come close to performing up to my old Echo straight-shaft. That didn't contort my body in Inquisition-era ways and was always an ease to use. Anyway, one of the so-called "testimonials" on the replacement head said, Made trimming a joy! Yes, I scoffed at that one the hardest, and yes, it was the most accurate. I could not believe the difference it made.

Still, it's effing hot out there, and there is a lot of curb to edge. I'm not used to curbs on corner lots. I swapped the string for the blade edger and fought mud for an hour. The house had never been edged, and it was more chore than I was willing to bear. I left it three-quarters complete and called it heat stroke.

[time passes]

I skipped a week, and went out the week after. They day before we were at 50+ days of 100+ and all my neighbors had foolishly mowed the day before. Today is was SIXTY-THREE DEGREES!!! Mowing was an ease, edging fun, and yes, trimming a joy. Two weeks ago, I mowed in vertical paths to the house, and taking a page from THE BOOK OF MR. WITWICKY this time I mowed in horizontal paths. Next week, I'll start on the two verticals before repeating the whole series.

Lot's wife.

What a whore.



More grass & lawn in front!