It was probably the last mow of the season. The grass had slowed down along with my ambition to see it trimmed. The mower and I were in agreement, but some things have to be done anyway.

Everything started normally. The mower cranked and cut a nice swath to the front yard. The mower has a rule. It will not run in reverse if the blades are engaged. All you have to do to kill the mower is try to go in reverse before the blades are completely disengaged, not partially, but completely. So it stopped. The problem was I couldn’t get it started again.

I tried everything. I checked to see if the blades were disengaged, multiple times. I checked the mower deck to see if anything was blocking the gear from disengaging completely. I cleaned off the deck, checked for random sticks, and anything else I could imagine.

Step two was calling one of my fixit friends. I’m more break it than fix it, or so I joke. I’m always amazed by those friends because they can seemingly do anything with any tool, machine, or construction need. They expect me to call because they are friends who know me.
They promised to come and look but gave me starter instructions. They told me where and how to look for any loose wire or disconnected thing. In my mind, “thing” is a technical term.

Step three was to jack up the mower for a better look. I either did not have the skill or an appropriate jack. Every attempt ended in a fail. Here is where the bad news arrives. I’m two to three hours in with three calls for help when the mower finally spoke in a voice I could hear.

This is where it is important to use quote marks. The mower said, “I will not go anywhere or do anything until you give me gas.” I was amazed and shouted, “I’m on a diet so you be on a diet.” The mower would not negotiate or consider any other option. It had me dead to rights. I filled the gas can and dutifully carried it to the mower whose servant I had become. True to its word, once the gas was provided, the mower went right to work without another complaint. I apologized for my stubbornness. The mower and I have returned to a positive working relationship.

My fixit friends had a good laugh before comforting me with their own stories of projects or machines in which the simplest resolution dominated the more complicated answer that seemed more logical in the moment. Comfort and encouragement is carried through the strength of friends.