White Lightning

When we purchased this house (or Peggy Sue as the boys call her) it came with a small riding mower. They said it probably needed a belt to get her started. As spring approached and the grass started to grow I realized I had NO idea how to get this thing started or repaired. I got a referral for someone to come mow for me but he wanted to charge $75 each week!! That wasn't going to happen so my neighbors across the street took a look at my mower and determined that it was something with the starter and said they'd let me know what part to order. They got busy and didn't get a chance so another good Samaritan looked at it and said it was the starter block and said when I found one to let him know he'd put that on.


I went to a parts store for all things mechanical. The parts were just about as much as the mower was worth. I left wondering what I should do and wishing I knew which part to get. I decided I was going to take matters into my own hands and call Sears. They came out and said it would cost over $500 just to fix the starter but they weren't even sure that was the problem. They left without fixing it but charged me $100 just for the 10 minute visit! In the mean time my next door neighbors let me borrow their riding mower. That was so generous of them but I didn't want to take advantage so the next time I used the little push mower that came with the house. It took me over 5 hours to mow and I think I had just as many blisters. I did not do that again!!

So then yet another neighbor said he'd look at it (he's a mechanic) when he got a chance. (Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have such amazing neighbors??) It turned out it was not the starter and he fixed it and gave it a full tune up........

So I was on our very own riding mower and feeling very grateful to everyone who'd been a part of the drama of getting it fixed! The only thing was it sounded like I was riding a go kart on a bad acid trip. Not sure what that sounds like? It goes putt putt putt PUTT POP!!! and I would then jerk forward getting minor whip lash. It was so bad that two of the neighbors came over trying to tinker with it but they agreed it didn't sound good at all. My mechanic neighbor came over and he laughed saying that it was fine I was just driving it too fast. (I didn't believe him!) They all got a good laugh over that as it turns out they all noticed how fast I drove the riding lawn mower. Since none of them have toddlers running around while mowing I don't think they understand my intent is to get it done as quickly as possible before they trash the house when I'm not looking!

So the next time I drove it super slow. I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin it was so slow. I was trying to appreciate the gorgeous day but the putt putt putt PUTT POP and jerk forward every 10 seconds was even worse going slowly. I'd gotten about halfway done when all of a sudden it started purring. I was ecstatic. I sat up higher thinking, "Yes this is it, now I can roll!" It went for about 10 feet then it POPPED and a black cloud of smoke came out. I was able to putt my way to the shed and stored it in there. Little did I know but that was the last time I'd ever ride him again.

I went to borrow my neighbors mower and as I turned it on the belts fell off leaving it useless to me until they showed me how to put them back on. It did this not once but two separate occasions. The second time I just threw my hands up and went to Sears. I walked in and there he was just waiting for me. Maybe knowing the history of this summer you can imagine him as I did. There was a light shining down from heaven and all of the other mowers just faded away. I might have heard some singing. It get's better- he was on sale and I bought the service plan too so if he breaks down in the next three years someone has to come out to fix him and I don't have to feel so helpless! I even got approved for the no payments no interest for 6 month deal. It was destiny.

I had a full gas can waiting on the day he was delivered. The delivery guy rolled him down the driveway and I think I skipped a little to meet him. I sat on him for a while just smiling and did a few test runs. He turns on a dime and handles the ditches like a pro. No more getting stuck for me in the ditch! I did fail to read the instructions (I was sitting on them while mowing) the first time and he would shut down with a loud pop every time I went into reverse. Turns out for safety reasons this is a new feature they've installed where you have to turn the key to a certain position to mow in reverse.

I think I might have a bit of a crush on my riding mower. Did I mention he has a cup holder? Bear saw him and dubbed him, "White Lightning." I will admit to having a bit of an obsession right now with the riding mower but hey my husband has been gone for 10 months- cut me some slack :-)