When I was taken to the hospital for heart surgery, my friend and neighbor Jack Macmillan came over and mowed the lawn. Nobody asked him, he didn’t tell us he was doing it. Every week since then, Jack has appeared to take Florence’s old mower out of the garage and mow the lawn. I will not be able to do it until September or October, I wouldn’t presume to make any assumptions, but I have this feeling Jack will be mowing the lawn for a good while.

Maria told Jack she would do it, and he just smiled and then came over and moved the lawn again. Several times, he has had to replace fan belts and other parts on Florence’s cranky old machine. Maria told him she would mow the lawn and he just smiled and mowed it. I have called Jack more times than I can recall – when I ran over the house, ran over a log, needed my rifle cleaned. He would not take any money for this work, and we would not offer any. Today Jack came over to help us move an urn. He has fixed broken faucets, replaced rotting wood, repaired fences.

I doubt I will ever be able to repay Jack for all the things he has done to help us in the past few weeks, I am not as handy as he is, it’s hard to imagine him calling me for help. He is one of those men who has learned  how the world works. I am not easy asking for help, and it’s a good thing, because you don’t ever have to ask Jack for help, he simply helps. We are grateful to, he is not only mowing the lawn he is sparing Maria from a task that, along with everything else, would wear her out.