Life on Looney Lane...

For weeks now, my dad has been pestering the owner of this house, Don Jenks to let us mow the lawn with his rider lawn mower. Each time Mr. Jenks says he is only getting him started and that he can do it later. This week it has been borderline begging and finally he agreed. He promised my dad he could try it out on Saturday in the late afternoon...
So, today our family is in the middle of an educational conversation about my mom and dad's dating life when we hear the soft hum of a lawn mower fill the yard. My dad panics, wolfs down his pasta salad and becomes determined to not let him get away with it this time. "I've gotta go get him!" he says, "he's doing our lawn again!" "No, no wait!" Claire says, "I've got a great idea. Why don't we all go outside and wait for him and when he comes around we can just hold up our hands with this 'what are you doing?' look."
"Go, dad, go!" "Well, you know, maybe you should just let him do it if he likes doing it so much." my mom suggests. "Yeah, maybe you're right." he sighs and slumps into his chair. Then he jumps up again. "But I really want to ride that mower!"
"Yeah, so do I." "No, Cade, you will be pushing our old manual lawn mower, while I ride the other mower. It'll be good for you." My dad makes a quick decision. "I've gotta go stop him." He jumps up and jogs outside. "Don, Don wait!"

My whole family runs outside. Yeah, the city folks are all outside to watch their first experience with a riding lawn mower. (Yes, we did bring the camera.) Mr. Jenks is saying, "Here, I'm going to give you a little demonstration on this little patch of grass. Back and forth. Back and forth.
"Yeah, yeah okay I got it."
My dad mounts the lawn mower and drives off as Mr. Jenks watches, his arms crossed, his dark sunglasses hiding his expression like a father watching his sixteen year old take his first drive. Occasionally he calls my dad over for lawn mower tips. All of us kids take a turn on it. When it's Emily's turn she gives us all a parade float worthy wave. Ashley pushes my dad's hand off the steering wheel and he lets her crazily drive on the grass.

So that's our excitement for the day. Riding lawn mowers. It doesn't get much better than that.