Good-bye and Hello in Just in Case

So it looks like I may have dealt a death blow to my old sturdy little mower after all. So, may parents generously funded the purchase of a new one. (Repayment rates are much easier to parents than to Lowes. Better interest rate, too.) So, they loaded up my mower to bring home and let my dad tinker with, and this shiny thing came to my house to stay:

It’s pretty and shiny, but it’s not my mower. I’ll enjoy it, but my other mower has been with me for about 9 years. We were friends. I felt sad watching it drive away on the trailer. I’m sure I’ll learn to like the new one, but it’s different.
We are enjoying gorgeous sunny days (as you can see in the picture). The highs are hitting about 80, a little warmer than I’d like it to be, but so much better than heat indexes hitting triple digits. My heart and prayers are with those in Florida and other states that will fall in the path of Irma. I have a feeling that she’s going to find her place in history alongside storms like Audrey, Camille, and Katrina. I have family in Florida who are choosing to ride it out. Sitting here in my safe home, I feel that’s the wrong choice, but who’s to say what I would do if I were there. So I just send up prayers for safety for all.