DC is a steam bath today, turned up to the max. It's hot, yes, but what makes it freakishly uncomfortable is the humidity. I managed to have fun anyway; I'm proud of that. Summer vs. Reya? Well, I had to take three cool showers including three complete clothing changes, wash my hair twice. Drink a gallon of lemonade. But I made it. Did you?
Negotiating with DC's summer heat is always a challenge. I have tilted at the season on occasion, only to be slapped down immediately. What I mean is that I tried to ignore the weather so as to carry on as usual. At the end of a day of denial I was always completely wasted, exhausted, overheated, dehydrated. But what did I think was going to happen? I mean really! Mother Nature vs. Reya? Please. You can imagine that during summers when I decided to argue with the heat, I suffered terribly, excessively.
Last summer I hid from the weather, a new approach. Unfortunately that didn't work either. Staying indoors so much was depressing as well as isolating.
Just as in my interactions with other humans, right now I am practicing the art of engaging with the world without tilting at it, working towards some kind of balance. Today, encountering the heat in batches, taking time to cool off inbetween, worked pretty well. I don't feel wiped out, but I'm also not disconnected from the world and other people.
Who knows how diplomatic I'll be tomorrow? At least for today, peace reigns between the summer heat and me. Shalom, ya'll. Shalom.
6 comments:
We did a bit of walking at dawn, and gardening later--the weather was pretty good. We had friends over for dinner, in a/c comfort. Nice to soak in a lukewarm tub though. I almost wish for a pool by the time August rolls around. tomorrow we'll spend a couple of hours walking at dawn again--a really pleasurable time to walk, as the sun rises and the birds start to wake up.
Jake and I walk early these days, too.
Your day sounds fabulous, a harmonious blend with the weather.
A pool would be great - but only for a couple of months each year (at least for me). Still I'm jealous of everyone who has a pool once it gets hot here.
If I lived in Florida, I would want a pool in one of those 360 degree screened in humongo porch things that so many people have there. That's the only way to greet Florida summer weather - with a pool at hand, icy beverage, protective screens to keep out the bugs, and overhead fans, lots of overhead fans.
I have to laugh at your description of summer in Florida, having grown up in a house in the Florida panhandle with no A/C, certainly no pool, and 100% humidity for months. We hoped for a breeze when we went to bed. I think you are talking about the rich folks in the southern part of the state...
Today's air here in Metro DC felt heavy with humidity and oppressively hot. Taking a long walk at 11 AM was a supreme effort.
It was a middle class neighborhood in Orlando where everyone had the huge screened in porches and small swimming pools.
a pool would be a must in FLA. although I like the beaches OK, I always hang out at the pools.
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