Suck and Mow - Grants, NM

Suck and Mow

Grants, NM

Map

September 12, 2001

Recipients: Juan & Eleanor Barela

Suck and Mow set a course for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Still numb from the previous days apocolypse, we decided to perservere. We stopped in a small reservation town on Historic Route 66, Gallup, New Mexico. The air had a strange quietness to it, very little activity. Most of the houses had rock gardens for yards and the few houses that did have grass were perfectly manicured. After a handfull of unansered doors and several rejections, we decided to move on.

A few hours later we approached Grants, New Mexico. After exiting and driving down a few roads we turned onto a side street where a man watering his yard caught our attention. We got out of the car to speak to Juan Barela, a WW II Veteran, very friendly and talkative. Juan agreed on letting us suck and mow his property and graciously invited us into his home.

Inside we met his wife Eleanor, daughter Becky and granduaghter Valerie. Suck worked on the carpets while everyone laughed and watched with curiousity. Mow trimmed the lawn while Juan watered the grass and helped by moving the hose out of the way. We presented the certificate and they insisted that they contribute to our cause by giving us a donation for the road. They were kind, trusting and displayed the true spirit of family. The Barela's did more for us than they know, they inspired hope back in our cause.