Member-only story
LIFE AND LOSS
No Fair
Nothing else makes sense
Author’s note: The following piece originally appeared in my Substack, Sherry Raw.
I glanced out my living room window when I heard the familiar rumble of the lawnmower. Yep. There he was. Hair like an Autumn sunset. Earbuds firmly in place as he went about the task of making our lawn look as presentable as our neighbors. Not an easy task, as we weren’t as perfection-obsessed as some.
I don’t remember if I ever asked what he was listening to or his preferred genre of music. Rap? Country? Classic rock? I’m guessing a bit of all three.
I don’t know and I never will.
After several minutes of watching Jess and his mower stake claim on our sprawling lot, I went outside and stood on the grass, waving the check I’d just written until he noticed me and pulled over, his smile as sunny as the day.
Regrettably, I rarely had cash.
When we first moved into our suburban ranch home twenty-five years ago, both my husband and I were working and had the funds for getting “stuff” done that we couldn’t or didn’t want to do ourselves.
Although we’d purchased a John Deere lawnmower from the previous owners, my husband used it once and called it quits. He’s not the outdoorsy type. I am, but I knew I’d…
