Bruce's Lawn Mowing Service
My husband, Bruce Cohen, will have to close his lawn mowing business this coming season unless we can purchase a new riding mower.
Employment opportunities in Nauvoo, Illinois are sparse for able bodied citizens. For Bruce, except for volunteer opportunities it has become impossible. So Bruce started his own lawn mowing business a few summers ago and now has enough customers and lawns to keep himself busy six days a week (if the sun is shining).
Unfortunately, I did not anticipate this determination or achievement when I purchase his Troy-Bilt Neighborhood Rider in 2013 and I sure did not read the "fine print". The mower was not built to withstand use most every day, every season. In spite of all that our friend, John Allen, could do . . . that Troy-Bilt broke beyond repair last summer.
And then, Voila! A 20 year old Sears Craftsman mower was donated by another good friend, Roy Dill. Unfortunately, the 20 years of wear added to the rough and rugged daily use with Bruce put that mower straight into the hands of a demolition derby for its final performance.
Thankfully, it was the end of the mowing season (2016) and Bruce was able (albeit unwilling) to put the business "to bed" for the winter.
I promised him that we would be able to purchase a "new" mower in time for the spring season (2017). I've suffered a few set-backs since then not the least of which was the loss of our car in an accident on the icy Great River Road a few days before Christmas.
Now . . . the time has come for me to admit that I cannot pull this off alone.
I have identified a few bright red (Bruce's favorite color), Sears Craftsman mowers built for rugged use . . . with the all-important-left-footed acceleration (in lieu of his paralyzed right leg) and I will have him make a choice. His comfort in getting on and off is something that I cannot determine alone.
With the help of family and friends. . . . I would like to raise the cash to purchase the mower of his choice . . . by March 15th. That should give us a couple of weeks to obtain the mower so Bruce can begin work when the grass is ready.
Bruce is so happy to have recently acquired a new client with two additional properties but he is terrified that he will disappoint them. He still has a couple of prominent customrs from last year that he would hate to lose.
I'm "priming the pump" with $100 today. I'll be back to place more in the bucket as the paychecks come in. Won't you please join me?
