😂 Looking for the Switch in All the Wrong Places: A Lesson in Laughter and Fencing 🌿

Through the centuries, even into the 80s and maybe the 90s, it was common to hear a woman say she wanted to help or please her husband. I’m sure plenty of women still desire that… but don’t depend on the media to show it to you.

I’ve told a story about Theresa before. Do you remember the car wash? Well, here’s another story that still has me laughing.

Theresa’s Grass-Cutting Adventure 🌱

I reminded her of her grass-cutting adventure yesterday—all in the name of surprising her husband with a job well done. By the way, they still have a happy and fun marriage 56 years later. You can only be in their presence for two seconds before everyone laughs. Oh, to be more contagious like that!

It’s Atlanta, and it’s 1982, and of course, it’s summer, and the humidity is a bear. Theresa decides she’ll cut the grass to surprise Stan when he returns from work. She easily gets the mower to start and proceeds to cut the grass. So what if she ran into the neighbor’s fence every time she got to the end of her run—no damage was done, she claimed. She finishes the entire front yard and is feeling proud of herself!

Now, all she needs to do is turn off the mower and put it away, and Stan will be delighted when he sees the freshly cut lawn—except she doesn’t know how to turn off the mower. She looks here and there, high and low, and nothing looks like a button to turn it off.

Ah! She spots what she thinks is the on/off switch and tries to turn it. That doesn’t work. "I guess I need to pull it," she determined, and pull she did. She pulled out the spark plug and stopped the mower but got quite the shock. But completely in “Theresa style,” she starts dying laughing. I mean, she got hysterical.

The neighbor hears her and comes over out of curiosity.

"Oh my gosh," he exclaimed. "What have you done?" as he peered at the spark plug in her hand.

"I tried to turn off the mower!" she replied, still laughing.

She was still holding the spark plug when Stan drove up, looking puzzled at the scenario he saw in his front yard. Theresa recounted the story, and Stan started laughing. "Well," he declared, "Theresa is always figuring out new ways to do things! That’s what I love about her! Never a dull moment with this live wire."

Time for a New Fence? 🪵

Has your neighbor been bumping into your fence when he cuts the grass? Have the dogs dug underneath the fence? Okay. It’s time to install a new fence.

What type of fencing material do you want? Call Terry at 978-486-3116 or visit louispage.com.

As always, my warmest regards, Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.—Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.
(Without question, that is 131 years owned and run by our family!)

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Life has a way of teaching us its most valuable lessons through the people we meet along the way.

I recently heard about my friend Mitzi, who’s been caring for her critically ill sister these past three weeks. Both these remarkable women are in their eighties, sharing a tiny ICU room where Mitzi has been sleeping on a narrow plastic couch night after night.

But here’s the thing that stopped me in my tracks...

A Lesson in Gratitude 💖

Mitzi never complains. Not once. Instead, she sends these beautifully written updates about her sister’s progress, marveling at how her sister never complains—all while not even realizing that she herself hasn’t uttered a single complaint either.

Despite having a busy life of her own, Mitzi considers these three weeks "the greatest gift" she has received—simply being in the presence of her “amazing” sister.

Imagine that. Two elderly sisters in a cramped hospital room, facing serious illness, yet both remain joyful, cheerful, and full of good tidings.

Mitzi’s philosophy? "The grass is always greener on MY side of the fence."

That perspective changes everything, doesn’t it?

The Fence as a Reminder 🪵

While most folks spend their days peering over fences, convinced someone else has it better, Mitzi’s found the secret: Appreciating what’s right in front of you makes your own grass the greenest.

It got me thinking about fences in general (yes, this is where my mind naturally goes!).

At Louis E. Page, we’ve been helping folks secure and define their special spaces since 1893. Whether it’s:
🔹 A zoo keeping precious wildlife safe 🦁
🔹 A park creating boundaries that protect while remaining welcoming 🌳
🔹 A DOT project ensuring public safety along highways 🛣️

The right fence does more than divide space—it helps you appreciate what’s within your boundaries.

Make Your Boundaries Work for You 🌟

Sometimes we need a gentle reminder that the grass truly can be greener on our side of the fence—if we choose to see it that way.

Need help making your boundaries better define your special space? Terry, our fence expert, understands that every property has its unique needs, and she’s passionate about finding the perfect solution for yours.

Give her a call today: 978-486-3116

Finding joy in quality boundaries since 1893, Debbie Page

P.S. The company, not me personally! LOL

I was unrolling a roll of wire mesh yesterday when a powerful realization unrolled along with it.

Betsey’s Journey: From Silence to Strength 🗣️

I received an email the other day from Betsey’s husband that got me thinking.

Betsey struggled with a significant speech impediment her whole life. Growing up, she was painfully shy—avoiding conversations, ducking out of social gatherings, and letting opportunities pass her by because she was terrified to speak up.

For years, she let this challenge define her. Life was happening TO her, not FOR her.

Then something changed. Betsey made a profound decision—to become "the architect of her life" instead of letting her circumstances dictate her path. She committed to speech therapy, practiced speaking in small groups, and gradually pushed herself into situations that terrified her.

It wasn’t easy. There were setbacks and moments of doubt. But role by role, word by word, she built a new reality for herself.

Today? You’d never guess her history. She went on to become a TV personality! That’s right—the woman who once couldn’t get through a sentence without struggling now appears on television, speaks with remarkable confidence, leads community meetings, and mentors others facing similar challenges.

She didn’t just accept the materials life handed her—she designed something beautiful with determination and purpose.

The "FrankenFence" Problem 🧟

And as I reflected on Betsey’s journey, my mind naturally wandered to fencing. (Yes, folks, this is how my brain connects dots!)

Here’s what struck me:

How many times have you seen properties with what I call "FrankenFences"? You know the type:
🔹 One section from Home Depot (3 feet high)
🔹 Another section from Lowe’s (5 feet high)
🔹 A random roll of hardware cloth somewhere in the middle
🔹 Maybe some deer fencing haphazardly tacked on the end

It’s the fencing equivalent of letting life happen TO you rather than designing the life (or property) you actually want.

When you approach your fencing this way, you’re not being the architect of your property. You’re piecing together whatever’s convenient or on sale, hoping it all somehow works.

And just like in life—it rarely does.

Be the Architect of Your Property 🏡

That’s why at Louis E. Page, we believe in helping you become the ARCHITECT of your property’s security and aesthetics. We don’t just sell wire mesh and plastic netting—we provide the materials that help you execute YOUR vision with precision.

Whether you’re:
🔹 Securing a zoo enclosure 🦁
🔹 Reinforcing a park boundary 🌳
🔹 Working on a DOT project 🛣️

The difference between "any old fence" and the RIGHT fence is enormous.

Stop Leaving Your Property to Chance! 💪

Want to stop leaving your property’s security and appearance to chance? Ready to become the architect instead of the victim of circumstance?

Call Terry, our fence expert, at 978-486-3116. Just like the roles that helped Betsey find her voice, Terry will help you design exactly what you need—no FrankenFences, just professional solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

Remember: Life (and fencing) happens FOR you, not TO you—but only when you take control and become the architect of your life.

All my best, Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.—Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.