Marriage is a partnership. It is more than a forever-friendship and even more than the joy of living together and being together – 24/7. Uh-huh, I said 24/7. This week Hubs and I arrived to a new plateau. That’s right we are now both proud owners of His-and-Her lawn equipment.

Let me tell you about mine first, because well, I want to.

My new baby is a battery-operated, cordless Black & Decker combination weed eater/blower. I feel so powerful with the little green jewel placed ever so snuggly in my hand.

Watch out dandelions, get a grip honeysuckle, move over Johnson grass (as an aside my relative William Johnson brought this nuisance to our area in the mid-1800s, but more about that later), get-out-of-town crabgrass, ‘cause I am after you.

That’s right people, with my new weed eater/blower miracle worker; we will soon see the last of these weedy-type aggravations.

Soon my lawn will be like velvet, suitable for the pastures located beyond the Pearly Gates which we shall walk one day in the Sweet-Bye-and-Bye.

There’s a land that is fairer than day

And by faith we can see it afar

For the Father waits over the way

To prepare us a dwelling place there

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore

~Joseph P Webster, 1868

Ah, yes, my new workaholic contraption is dressed fashionably in a granny-apple-green assemble accessorized with gray trimming — styling, indeed. I must say she is beautiful, but the best part, she is aggressive. Wowzer! When the two are us are on a weed prowl, I declare she is the first one to spot the enemy. I’ve named her Miss Greensleeves.

As Miss Greensleeves and I walk the dips-and-darts of my imperfect lawn, I am reminded of Ole Red, my riding lawn mower from years past. She is gone to the great beyond now, but she was a doozie.

I shall never forget the day we brought Ole Red to our home. She was just a babe, then. I loved her at first sight. My discerning eye appreciated the fire-engine red fenders, with black-detailed-edging. I admired the lovely line of the front hood, which coordinated perfectly, with the over-sized tires. Oh, how the tires glistened in all their blackness. I was amazed and couldn’t wait to get my hands on her.

I hopped up and down with glee when first meeting Ole Red. “I get to cut grass today! I get to cut grass!”

I admit we did show-out a bit, the ole girl and me, during our 20 years together, our partnership. You see at that time as well Hubs had bought a spanking-new mower, all prissy it was — had an attitude, too, but when Ole Red saw it coming that first morning, she sized her up, correctly.

It was a blue-bird-sky type Saturday morning when Hubs and I left the barn in a dead heat. He was on the prissy mower and me on Ole Red. It was a partnership, of sorts, but Ole Red and me, we aimed to conquer.

I headed for the high grass all along the rough areas of the lawn and he headed for the smooth, silky grass of the main yard. Ole Red attacked the tall grass and weeds with vengeance and great force. As I headed for the intimidating and always spiteful kudzu patch, Ole Red kicked into turbo and with skill and grace overran the enemy. Oh, how sweet is victory.

Sigh, those were the glory days but I can see that Miss Greensleeves and I will make our own way, setting records and making wonderful memories.

You can see the McKee ranch has seen many lawn equipment partnerships, more like family, I would say. And yes, partnerships are important when we all work hard, but Ole Red and Miss Greensleeves, I think, are both a little ahead of the game.

So yes, let everyone enjoy a smooth and almost perfect lawn partnership this summer until we go, one wonderful day, to the most perfect lawn ever which is located in the sweet bye and bye.

Anne McKee is a Mississippi historian, writer and storyteller. She is listed on the Mississippi Humanities Speakers Bureau and Mississippi Arts Commission’s Performing Artist and Teaching Artist Rosters. See her website: www.annemckeestoryteller.com