Small triumphs

  I just had to share a little triumph with you this morning. Men may not want/need to read further because this is really something only women will understand.  Most men to whom I tell this story simply give me a puzzled look and say, "OK" and move on.
        In the great scheme of life it is absolutely nothing, but we all need moments when we pump our arm and give a "yes!"  in honor of a personal accomplishment!  Two things, actually.  Last year I bought a new lawn trimmer.  My little yard doesn't need much, but it does need me to trim a few spots to make it look more finished.  Anyway, when I used the trimmer I kept getting more line than I wanted.  The line would frustratingly wrap around the feeder.  I would stop, untangle it and then get about 5 seconds worth of trimming before I had to do it again.  
               This Spring I was venting my frustration to a friend who asked how the trimmer operated.  I have to press one button on the handle and hold it down while I press the starter.  She told me that the first button was to feed the line and I should let go of it when the trimmer motor engaged.  Simple thing, but "who knew"?  I certainly didn't, but it made sense.  I did as she directed and "Voila!"  It worked.  Press first button and then quickly push and hold second button and release first button.  Great excitement and pleasure.  It worked and my yard never looked better, mostly because of a new triumph.  Of course now I hold the second button as long as possible to keep the trimmer running so it won't feed out more line than I really need.  Convoluted thinking, but, hey! it is the way my mind works.
                 Second, victory.  Great excitement!  I bought a new lawn mower in April.  I have an electric one because yanking the string to start the mower has never been something I was excited about.  Most guys can do it on the first or second yank, but not me.  I guess the newer mowers are easier, but with my small yard I have stuck to electric.  So -- a new mower.  Beautiful orange and black.  I used it May, June, July and most of August.  It had a grass catcher, but the grass never went into the bag.  The mower would mulch and leave the grass on the lawn where it would dry and then look messy.  I spoke to the store where I had purchased the mower.  They didn't have any answers.  I was frustrated.
                    About a week ago, as I was hosing off the mower to clean it, I told myself to think this problem through.  Think logically! O.K. The mower had a grass catcher so there had to be someplace the grass was to come through and into the bag.  I turned the mower on its side and began to inspect the undercarriage.  I found an opening and discovered there was a PLUG!! that had to be removed before the grass could be blown into the bag.  Eureka!!  This week I mowed the yard and emptied a bag full of grass!  I could not have been more pleased!!  Wild applause, please!!
                 Now, in the first paragraph I said men don't seem to understand my small victory.  Somewhere along the line there is implanted in our brains that women have certain jobs and men have certain jobs.  That is one of the unwritten codes of marriage from what I observe.  For the most part men get the oil changed, mow the yard, check the upkeep on the house, etc.  I know things are changing and women do much more of this kind of work now and men are handier in the kitchen and with the kids then they were a generation or two ago.  But when I walk into the garage in town and make an appointment to get my oil changed and tires rotated there is a slight feeling of "I don't really belong here."  Being single I got over that long ago.  However, small accomplishments with machines is a big one for me.  Mainly I don't want to know how they work, just that they will work and so this summer when I figure out something like the trimmer and the lawn mower that is HUGE for me!  
                    So, kind friends and gentle people, it has been a great way to end the summer.  I wonder what new mountain peaks lie ahead??