Here We Go Again

Here we are. Same time and same place; just a little bit warmer. 75° and slowly falling at this early hour. And I couldn’t help but remember how it was ‘back in the day’ when air conditioning was only a dream.

I used to lie in bed in my grandfather’s house (In Bakersfield) and listen to the whine of the fans as they moved hot air all around the house. Every window was open to capture any drop in the outside temperature. And moving air was so much better than still air! It really didn’t matter that it was all the same temperature. So the favorite fan was one that would swivel from side to side as it worked. Waiting for the gentle slide of air over the bed; ah! And then waiting for its return. Outside my window the crickets called. Pretty soon you were asleep.

Today, I have a swimming pool just 20 feet away if I want to cool off. Unheard of 60 years ago. But I wonder how refreshing it would be? Yesterday, at 4 o’clock, the water was up to 89° and rising. Still…I think I will go for it this morning!

Our cat decided to become an outdoor cat some time ago and is probably regretting that decision now. Wearing a black fur coat in this weather has to be difficult! She moves very slowly and makes herself a bed in the dirt around the roses, where it’s shady. When she decides to come inside, she usually flops onto the cool vinyl floor in the kitchen, spreading herself out, legs extended to the max.

This morning, she sits in the window while I type and I assume she is enjoying the view (cat TV!) and the cool air being blown by her. And when I look out that window I see lots of clouds on the horizon. Does that mean more humidity (and discomfort) in our forecast?

Darn! The forecast has changed once again and now it’s supposed to be 110°, plus a threat of dry thunderstorms in the mountains. I really need to have some Republican tell me again that global warming is simply ‘bad science’. That will make me feel so much better!