As it often turns out, my earlier prediction didn't come true. I didn't mow the lawn during the week, so the "no mowing lawn in April" record remains intact. But I can now enter a May 1st mowing date in the books--record or not. With two very modest rains during the week and some windy weather, the yard needed to be tidied up, so I raked that part under the pine trees to gather up the needles and cones that had separated life from limb in recent weeks. From the appearance of both needles and cones, this is clearly a two-step process. Their lives had ceased sometime ago, but only now they have gotten around to separating from the limbs of their birth.

Since the raking effort involved under yesterday's conditions is so much easier than the first raking of the season, I was either inclined to reflect on a potential deeper meaning of the activity or I was simply distracted. As one approaching retirement, I wonder if there is a parallel two-step process for the human species. The message may well be to stay connected, even if one has lost his/her earlier color or his/her seed has already been dispersed. The challenge is to hang on for dear life during the the thunderstorms that pass through from time to time.


The balance of the yard got mowed. It has heavier soil and is less susceptible to drought. It has good color and now a more youthful or, at least, a tidier appearance. One may not always be able to become more youthful, but one can always tidy up.