I just mowed the lawn. I love mowing the lawn, and here's why: It started with my girl friend making a few comments about her lawn service and about wanting to take a trip to Ireland but not having the money... These two things don't seem related? Well, I heard them both around the same time and asked how much she paid the lawn service, and reallized that in one Summer/ Fall, if I did the lawn work she'd have the money to go to Ireland... After some persuasion she agreed to let me do the lawn from now on. The first time I did it I found out that it was physically more difficult then my memory of doing my lawn as a teenager. (I don't think the work has changed, and of course that first day I felt kind of old.) As a few weeks went by I found myself looking forward to mowing day... really getting excited about it. I reallized some things around the third week. I reallized that mowing the lawn was giving me three things I needed. These three things were not minor but basic human needs! These three things are: 1. physical excercise (I have not been getting enough and the mowing is really great excercise) 2. Solitude for reflection and meditation (I put my earplugs in and the mower becomes white noise... and the two hours it takes to do the whole yard have become my most effective meditation-time) 3. An opportunity to contribute to the household (my whole adult life I've lived "like a college student," in small, non-traditional spaces with milk-crates for furniture- which is how I can make a living as a folk singer/ songwriter... Since moving in with my girl friend at her life-style level, there is no way I can contribute financially, equally, and so the yard work is one way I can contribute to the household...)

So today I am thankful for the blessing of mowing the lawn. I am writing this still sweaty and messy from this labor of love and whole-ness. I just came back from a week away and I have a lot to do but still I am so happy the weather was nice so I got to mow today... Life is good!

Monday, June 5th 2006