Thursday, June 3, 2010

Summer - Let the Whining Begin!

It's already too hot and humid. As I've said many times, low humidity is the key to happiness for me. We're already into the upper 80's and low 90's for a high with afternoon showers which makes it stifling and muggy. Those words aren't even part of the vocabulary in the southwestern part of the country. Later on when it's in the high 90's, it will be a jungle out there, Jane. It makes things green and lush which is pretty with all the flowers and trees and shrubbery. (Have to get some Monty Python in there.)

I've been hearing people discuss cutting back on air conditioning on NPR by saying how houses were made with cross-ventilation and people didn't have a/c back in the day and made it just fine. No, we didn't. Not at all. I was miserable as a child and teenager. We didn't have it at home when I was growing up, and I suffered every summer. We played outside most of the time and came in to eat and sleep. I'd beg my parents to take me swimming or let me stand under the hose. Then later on, I'd ask if I could live with my aunt and uncle in Nashville during the summer.

We didn't have a/c at school, church, or most places back then, and I don't know how we stood it. Keep in mind that we wore starched and ironed dresses and shirts and dressed up when we went anywhere, too. I don't recall being miserable all the time but know I would be now without it.

Lee Remick, Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward in The Long Hot Summer

13 comments:

David Dust said...

I agree 100% - low humidity is the key to happiness in my book.

And my new A.C. is just about the best thing I've ever owned in my life...

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Ken Riches said...

Hope you are getting some relief at night.

Mistress Maddie said...

You know Auntie Flame I myself don't mind the heat and actually love the feel of the heat on my skin,but when it comes time to go to bed, I like it nice and cold. I can't sleep hot. And you can't get dronk either when it's too hot, it only make me sweat more!!!! Tootles!

Joy said...

Oh, I'm fine, Ken. I have central heat & air and won't ever be without it. That description was during my life at home with my parents all through my teen years. They got it later on, and I've had it all my life since leaving home. That post was in response to something I heard on NPR and David's dilemma that's been solved successfully.

Joy said...

That's right, Maddie! Only I don't like to be hot any time.

Beth said...

I feel the same as Maddie--I kind of like it hot during the day, but really prefer it cool at night.

Bob said...

When i lived in California we might have very hot days, but the nights would be cool....then i went to Maimi.
Big difference.
Here it's kind of a middle ground; it gets hotter than Miami, though not as hot as California; it's less humid than Miami, but more humid than California.
Oh, well, shorts, T's, flip-flops....all good.

Joy said...

My friend Jackie loves heat and humidity. Guess someone has to.

Allan S. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
lelocolon said...

I grew up in Puerto Rico and from April until october, it was mad hot. I remember walking from school to my house , a distance of about .6 miles with a load of heavy books under a sun of 102 degrees and feeling my converse melt as I walk. I do not like the heat. Love you joy.

Joy said...

I was in Progreso and Cozumel in October and it was humid and HOT!! I asked someone there when the cool season was, and they said there wasn't one. Glad I wasn't there earlier in the summer.

Jen T. said...

Oh how I agree. I used to melt at my grandparents as a child. I think I would've croaked by age 3 as a child without central heat and air... of course, in my present state, I am doing good to about to be hitting 35 WITH central heat and air, good food, and clean water.
And I love your observations on how the past is oft remembered differently than what it really was.

Sam said...

Of all the things Mom amd I talked about from her youth I never once asked about A/C.
Now we did talk about outhouses and not having an indoor toilet.
You will not like Austin in July and if they do have some rain you will hate it.
As for me and A/C, I keep my truck so cold at night that when I wake up I'm usually buried in my Quilts.