It’s been a weather perfect summer so far but the heat and humidity finally arrived yesterday. It got up into the 90s, which its only done once or twice this summer and the amount of water everywhere adds it’s thick, sticky layer to the loveliness of the season.
I spent a few hours with Tot yesterday so MJ could take the girls to see Finding Dory, which has gotten rave reviews from everyone who has seen it. As usual, Tot was furious to be left by his Mom. He screamed at me and Josie for a few minutes but since it was his normal naptime, I just popped him into the pack n play, shut the door and went upstairs to work. Tot’s lungs gave out after 10 minutes. Josie and I high fived each other at having outlasted a baby.
I got a half hours worth of work done before Tot awoke. He picked up right where he left off; vocally informing Josie and I that he was not delighted with our company.
Once again, I outwitted my ten month old nephew, this time by taking him out into the back yard. We sat together in the shade on the deck. He was too fascinated by his surroundings to scream at me any more. Josie joined us and we spent a very pleasant hour under the ash tree, trying not to move too much, as the heat discouraged such effort.
When Tot finished exploring all he could from the chaise lounge, I put him down on the path beneath the tree. He sat on a cool paver and discovered the joy of small rocks. Kids love little rocks.
For an hour and a half, we sat outside and Tot made not a peep as he picked up rocks, dropped them, picked up others and once in a while pulled a weed from under the tree. It was lovely! He glared at me and Josie every so often, to remind us that he did not forgive us for kidnapping him from his mother but he didn’t make a peep.
We were not intimidated by his stony expression.
Nearly two hours after he arrived, Tot got hungry so we went back inside where it was wonderfully cool (never underestimate the importance of air conditioning in the advancement of civilization) and I gave him a bottle and some green bean casserole (looked and smelled as gross as it sounds but he loves it). We were so engaged when his Mom and sisters returned.
I tossed the boy to his Mom so he could berate her for her heartless abandonment of him and the girls and I all enjoyed popsicles on the deck. Even in the shade, it was so hot we had to eat them fast or they melted away.
Later on, after dinner, it was too hot to watch TV on the porch. Zack found a DVD player in the basement. I think it must be the one I bought for Josie’s dorm two years ago. We hooked it up to the big TV (the Bose system Jay loves hasn’t played dvd’s in six months) and I watched Parks and Recreation till I was too tired to laugh anymore.
I hate sleeping in the air-conditioning, even when I acknowledge that there could be no sleep without it. So I opened the window near my head to let the hot, natural air wash into the cool room.
I woke up at 4:00 to a stiff gale buffeting my face as a thunderstorm moved in from the West. I ran outside and closed the umbrellas on the deck before they took flight to lands unknown. I like those umbrellas and would like to get through the season without replacing them. Then I went back to bed. With the now fresh, cooler air of the storm blowing through my room, the rest of the night was spent sleeping deeply. I awoke to a cooled down world. I turned off the air at 8 but will turn it on again before noon. It’s supposed to get up near 100 today and with the fresh infusion of water everywhere, it’s going to be sticky, indeed.
Wouldn’t it be great if during the winter, there were a few hours a day where it was warm enough to open windows?
Whenever it gets this hot and humid, I just remind myself that it’s going to get cold and dry again very soon. Bone chilling cold and skin cracking dry. I’ll be ready for it when it comes but for now, bring on the heat.