Lawnmower Kisses

Our marriage of fifty years has always been full of creative ways to entertain each other. There have been many things we’ve done together that are unique to our years spent having fun.

When we moved to Tennessee over three years ago, Jim came up with yet another idea. We noticed that Sunday mornings after church we could hear various riding lawnmowers echoing throughout all the hills. We live a few miles from our church and several hills between. The countryside homes have no less than an acre so we often see riding lawnmowers grooming the hillsides. Especially on Sundays before or after various church services.

One day, not long after we moved here and were out enjoying a drive to learn our way around the area, I playfully punched Jim on the arm. “Slug a bug!”

“What was that for?”

“I just saw another riding lawn mower, so I thought I’d get you like when we used to count little VW bug cars. Remember?”

Jim leaned over and kissed me. We were having a conversation about how many riding mowers buzzed and broke the silence of a beautiful Sunday morning. The air dispensed a wonderful smell of “freshness” that only cut grass and hay can offer.

“What was that for Jim?”

“Well, every time one of us sees a riding mower, we get to give a kiss to each other instead.”

I laughed, “I’ve seen at least three push mowers in operation in people’s front yards. So I’ll collect three tonight when we get home.”

“Oh no you won’t because this applies to riding mowers only. I’m starting count now. The push mowers are far and few between. Ha Ha.”

Because of the countryside, I miss a lot of those mowers because I’m looking for wildlife. Jim always collects more from me when we arrive home.

Like most of our habits, this one stuck and we enjoy the togetherness and memories we see around us. We live in a beautiful area, thankful for this land, and each other.