Work ethic

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I grew up having to work, started cutting grass at 11 with a push mower and eventually got a job at 14 on a local produce farm. When I had kids I knew that they needed to work, but also wanted them to enjoy their youth. I invested the money in commercial grade lawn equipment, I have a 3 acre lot with tons of beds and trees surrounding, so it wasn’t for nothing. When my oldest was able to drive I posted on FB advertising high school kid prices with commercial/professional quality on yards 1 acre or bigger. Neither of the boys ever had to work an official job during school. They have been able to schedule the work around whatever they wanted to do, and always had the pocket change to do it.
 
When I was a kid, I would work for a man that had a contract to mow cemeteries. We did it with old Yazoo push mowers. It taught us to be quick on our feet because about every 100 feet was a Yellowjacket nest under a head stone. I can't remember what it paid, but probably four or five dollars a day. Big money when a candy bar was $.05.
 
When I was a kid, I would work for a man that had a contract to mow cemeteries. We did it with old Yazoo push mowers. It taught us to be quick on our feet because about every 100 feet was a Yellowjacket nest under a head stone. I can't remember what it paid, but probably four or five dollars a day. Big money when a candy bar was $.05.
Yellow jackets will hunt you down. They know who disturbed their nest.
 
Used to carry a small container of gas on tractor when cutting the fields. Ran over many yellow jacket nest. Had to shut tractor off and RUN. Wait about 10 minutes, find nest throw gas on it and light it. Dad got after me a couple times until showed him the stings. Holy cow, that was in the early 60s….
 
Good for them. I mowed commercially for a number of years. Riding one of those things all day beat pushing but was still a workout. Depending on terrain, would mow several acres an hour.

Might want to replace the safety guards over the deck pulleys. Getting caught in one of them would ruin more than your day...
 
It takes me two days. One for out front and one for the back. Gawd I miss having the energy. My body is just slowly giving out on me. I’ve had a dang good run! I can’t complain, as I just can’t worry about it. New knee is coming soon. I love all you guys and gals.
Jeff, I definitely know what you mean! In my healthy years, I could cut my grass in 45 minutes with a push mower. Now, the heat and humidity kills me. My bone on bone right knee is rough on me too. Nowadays, it takes me about 2 hours to cut my grass with a self propelled mower. This is how I have to cut it……. I literally cut for 5-7 minutes and then have to sit in my truck in the driveway with the A/C running for 5 minutes. Even having to do it this way, I’d rather cut it myself than pay to have it done…..while I still can. I’ve ALWAYS been the kinda guy that does everything myself if at all possible. Aging is tough, so I won’t be able to do it myself forever.

Rusty, does “the crew” travel?😜
Larry
 
Those young men were raised right. Kudos to both the parents and to Kody and Logan!

Thank you for the kind thought.

Kody's dad died young so his mother, who is a hard charger with a strong work ethic, raised him to work hard. He is a certified ice, diesel and EV mechanic. For the last year he has worked third shift at the large Rivien service center in Sharonville, Ohio whose only client is Amazon (delivery EV vans). Besides lawn care he owns a mobile auto repair business.

I am the only father Logan has known. Since he was 9 years old he has studied anything to do with engines. He has already been accepted into next year's metal fabrication/welding class at nearby Butler Tech. Last year I bought him a Lincoln Electric portable welding station that he has become quite good with.

His head knowledge of tools, mechanics, IT, literature, movies and music, among many other things, is staggering.
 
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