Ron and the kids have enjoyed mowing our new yard this summer thanks to Mr. Rick and John Deere. A friend of ours has generously shared his John Deere mower all summer while our Simplicity Tractor (circa 1980-something) has been in the shop. A couple of shops to be exact! The kids (and probably Ron) fell in love with John Deere ... perhaps because of the shiny green/yellow design, the smooth ride or other modern amenities! The kids point out any and everything John Deere (including people's shirts "Look, it's John Deere!" as they walk by) and would look out the window longingly at Mr. Rick's mower when it was parked outside. Ben would speak of it as if it were a friend, "Is John Deere coming over today?" or "Look, John Deere is outside." Even Lauryn would sing the Joe Diffie, "In John Deere Green", song anytime the mower was mentioned. Sadly, the day to retrieve our lawn tractor came and John Deere's visits to our house were over. When Ben saw our tractor arrive he was excited, until he sat in the seat and looked at me and said, "Mommy, where are the cupholders?!" Lauryn, in typical girl fashion ... ignoring differences obvious to Ben, still sees a mower you can ride and still calls the tractor John Deere ... to which an argument between them usually ensues. (Him: "That's NOT John Deere" Her: "John Deere Green") But perhaps the saddest of all is Ron, his first response after mowing with the Simplicity, "We need a new mower."
