The grass in my yard looks raggedy and awful--the guy who mows it for me is out of town or some such; I can't get hold of him and I have a thing about letting the yard get so scraggly. It bothers me. Maybe he's quit (my heart sinks at the thought.)

I have a problem keeping a yard man. I had a man once who'd take most of six hours to do the yard and it was immaculate when he was done. But six hours! And he wanted me around to brag on the job he was doing, and watch over him like a mother. I just want someone to do the job, let me pay you and go home.

Another guy would mow for five minutes, take a break, mow another five or ten minutes, and take another break. On his breaks, I was expected to sit and talk to him and listen to his personal problems and provide snacks and bottled water.

Another guy who did a good job said he would have to come once a month to keep the yard mowed and debris and leaves picked up on a schedule. He considered himself a landscaper, not just a lawn mower. That first year of service, we had a three months long drought. The grass died and turned brown. (I don't water the grass--it's live or die, sink or swim, and it always comes back green and happy.)

So he arrives during the drought and ran his mower over and over that dead grass, with big clouds of dust billowing behind. I was dismayed. It looked like pictures of the Oklahoma dust bowl. So the next month I called and said don't come--the grass is still dead. He got angry and wouldn't come back. He is one of many mowers who have passed through my life and never stuck.

Oh to have a man who'll take care of the yard and change the oil in the car--if you ladies have a guy like that, give him a big smooch!

susil