Good Men Cut Grass--the tale, or; The story of "Low Mow"

Early in life we all learn that just as "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker," so also if a little is good, a lot is not necessarily better. Yes------ sometimes more is better. I am talking general rules here.

If a box of chocolates is good and effective in winning a suitors hand, two boxes of chocolate is not necessarily better. Yes, for Dove bars there may be an exception. I am talking general rules....One must then learn about flowers. So the skill set expands.

There is a culture across America that assumes that "Good men cut grass." The corollary rule seems to be that: Great Men cut grass CONSTANTLY.

If you travel across America this summer as many of you are, gaze on the municipal parks and log, or ask the kids in the back seat to log how many of the parks have burnt out grass. Then----get on The Evansville Observer and report your findings.

I would bet a lot of "Great towns" in America have that signature we all know--burnt out grass.

Recently Janesville and Madison have gone to a "Low Mow" policy. They have allowed wild flowers to replace the cut grass on the side of roads. And they have limited their cutting of all areas to save energy and yes money of staff.

I recently mentioned this to a fellow Evansville resident. The response was surprisingly emotional.

"Low Mow" is really UnAmerican," he said. Great men cut grass. It's always been that way. That's just the natural law here."

I argued a little with him, but he got even more strident. "Besides, Wolfman,(that's what he always called me) it's not about the grass anyway. We got to keep those folks working. Who cares if the grass burns out."

That last part surprised me. But then I remembered that my navy pilot friend used to travel all over the world right at the end of the fiscal year, and call me from the flight deck. After several calls from all over the world, in successive days, I was alarmed. "It must be a real national emergency if you are flying so much," I said.

"My missions are all classified, " he whispered, " But really we are just burning fuel."

I never understood what he meant till now. I guess wasting a good budget for fuel is really UnAmerican.

I will be waiting for the travelers to report their results from across their travels on the "Great", Burntout, cities across America.

Let the counting begin.