ROJITO

Daddy Gene always said, "poor people have poor ways". Mostly, he meant that when facing a need, Wright City folk had to figger out a solution that did not involve money.

Gene called them solutions "managing". Takin' what you had and forging a resolution that got the job done. In truth, he was a master at this "art" as he was something of an inventor and as handy as a pocket on a shirt when it came to "fixin" stuff.

The old ranch hand inherited that ethic and has tried to emulate Daddy's ways. Often a quicker, easier solution would be to pay someone else to fix something, but the image of Daddy "watchin" always loomed in the background.

A case in point involves the ranch riding mower. That puppy has been a trojan of a workhouse performing hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of service without complaint.

Course, like your humble scribe, Rojito (as I call the red machine) has started to wear out one piece at a time.

The routine has become to mow a time or two....and then tear it all apart to replace broken/worn parts....mow a time or two...repeat above (over and over)????

The book of Romans (12:12) tells us, "Be joyful in hope; patient in affliction, faithful in prayer".

Lord, I know you have noted my "faithful prayer" to give me more "patience", but after today that damn mower is wearing my butt out with its breaking down "affliction".