My Racine

          

I saw Super Woman yesterday as I drove down High Street.  A quick glimpse imprinted her in my mind.  She was small framed, thin, wearing a skirt and a perky white blouse.  She looked to be in her late 80's perhaps even her 90's.  She was mowing the hill in front of her house with a hand mower....and as I continued to drive  I knew I had to turn around and tell her something...I didn't know what but I turned my truck around and headed back.  As I pulled up she was sitting on her concrete step pulling weeds growing on the hill next to her.  She looked up as I rolled down my window.  I smiled and yelled out of the window,"I just had to stop and....". 

"I can't hear you!" she yelled back to me with a look of concern on her face.

I moved closer to the window and I yelled louder, "I just had to stop to....".

"I still can't hear you!", she yelled again....only this time she was smiling.  At this point I was thinking to myself..."Ok...if I drive the truck away now I may frighten her but if I get out and talk to her will I frighten her more???...And... what was it I wanted to say that was so all fired important two minutes ago???"  I turned the truck off and got out.  She smiled and I sat down on the step next to her.   "What can I do for you today?" she asked me. I noticed the frame of her glasses was yellowing with age and she had large thick squared lenses that made her eyes look huge.  And that in turn made the twinkle in her eyes look even larger than life. 

""The freshly cut grass smells so good without the smell of gasoline from an electric mower....I saw you mowing your lawn and I just wanted to stop and tell you what an inspiration you are!"  I looked at her mower.  It was shorter than most mowers and it was made of wood.  The handles were smooth, stained dark from years of use and they were worn with age. 

"I have used it my entire life.  I like to get the yard ready before Sunday when everyone comes."  She pointed to the church next door. 

"Well, it certainly looks great and your flowers are beautiful as well!  I don't know why I stopped...it's just that I saw you working and I just wanted to tell you how nice your yard looks and what an inspiration you are to me!"  I stopped and slowly got to my feet.

"Well....thank you for stopping by today,"  she said as I walked back to the truck.  I got in, shut the door and we waved to each other.  Then I pulled into traffic and saw her in my rear view mirrow waving.  I tooted my horn and that was it.  She really WAS Super Woman I am sure of it!