Back in September, when we were visiting all the family in VA, I became an official member of Zach's family. Doesn't matter that I have been married to the guy for a year and a half or so. I had not yet learned to drive the family tractor(s).
For a bit of background, my in-laws live on a farm, and I mean farm in the hundreds-of-acres sense. The family has several tractors (I think Phil counted 12, including the ones awaiting repairs). Big John Deere people :) EVERYone coming into the family learns to drive the tractors, and I had not yet had the chance. Both my sister-in-law (Zach's brother's wife) and my other sister-in-law's boyfriend (Zach's sister's boyfriend) had learned, college friends visiting the farm had learned, ex-girlfriends of both brothers had learned. Yet, since Zach had not lived at the farm much while we were dating, I had not yet had the opportunity to give it a try myself. Something was missing.
So, the weather being gorgeous and all, we trucked down to the barn and, suitably accompanied by the folks, the dogs and the cameras, I got to try. I ended up driving 4 tractors that morning. They started me on one of older ones (1951) and then we went through some newer models, ending with one they were calling the Cadillac of tractors - radio, AC, power steering - all the good stuff. Even my inexperienced self appreciated the difference in them :)
While I was giving all this a try, I also drove the Dixie Chopper that morning. The Dixie Chopper, for those with yards not small enough to have ever needed one, is a lawn mower with about a 60 inch cutting radius. My mother-in-law's very favorite piece of yard equipment. Very sensitive controls, and can turn in place once you get the hang of it. I wasn't very good, and felt like I was driving a bumper car, because I kept jerking myself around :) One of those machines that gets better with practice, I'm told.
For a bit of background, my in-laws live on a farm, and I mean farm in the hundreds-of-acres sense. The family has several tractors (I think Phil counted 12, including the ones awaiting repairs). Big John Deere people :) EVERYone coming into the family learns to drive the tractors, and I had not yet had the chance. Both my sister-in-law (Zach's brother's wife) and my other sister-in-law's boyfriend (Zach's sister's boyfriend) had learned, college friends visiting the farm had learned, ex-girlfriends of both brothers had learned. Yet, since Zach had not lived at the farm much while we were dating, I had not yet had the opportunity to give it a try myself. Something was missing.
So, the weather being gorgeous and all, we trucked down to the barn and, suitably accompanied by the folks, the dogs and the cameras, I got to try. I ended up driving 4 tractors that morning. They started me on one of older ones (1951) and then we went through some newer models, ending with one they were calling the Cadillac of tractors - radio, AC, power steering - all the good stuff. Even my inexperienced self appreciated the difference in them :)
While I was giving all this a try, I also drove the Dixie Chopper that morning. The Dixie Chopper, for those with yards not small enough to have ever needed one, is a lawn mower with about a 60 inch cutting radius. My mother-in-law's very favorite piece of yard equipment. Very sensitive controls, and can turn in place once you get the hang of it. I wasn't very good, and felt like I was driving a bumper car, because I kept jerking myself around :) One of those machines that gets better with practice, I'm told.
So, yes, as of September 4, I am officially part of the family :)
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