July 15, 2018 – Sunday
Easy!
Summer – FINALLY – arrived here in the NW, a few days ago … on Wednesday, the 11th of July. Yeah, a bit late by anyone’s account. But it has arrived! Woo hoo!
You might wonder … how do I know this exact time? I have my ways.
Last Wednesday I took my neighbor to the mainland for some scans (thankfully bypassing a 2 hour long ferry wait – each way – because we had a medical pass). The long waits for the ferry are indicative that it is Summer – whether or not the weather is cooperating seasonally. I figure I won’t be going off island again unless it’s late in the day or later at night … or until it’s late September … cuz I’ve waited in those lines and I’m not doing it again! But long lines are a good indication that the seasons have changed … more traffic.
While over “on the other side” I thought I’d forego the PTSD that always ensues when I am in a hospital (bad memories from when Tim was sick) and decided I’d go walk around the university campus that was just beyond the med center’s front doors. A much better way to spend a splendid summer day – being outside rather than inside a fluorescent bulb-lit hospital waiting room – and I’d go back and pick up my friend later.
And not only did I have to get out of the hospital … I just NEEDED to get out into that warmth and sunshine. I’ve been practically writing letters to Mother Nature asking for her arrival … and I needed to get out, see if the forecast was right, see if she indeed had arrived and shed my winter skin!
The University of Washington is a nice campus … not as pretty as others I’ve been on but nice enough. I walked past a few ornate, gothic buildings and well-kept rose gardens and a big fountain that looked like it should have been in some Italian movie (something like Gidget Goes to Rome) and soaked up the sun and warmth … and soon realized that it was actually HOT out! When one is used to 58-68 degree temps as “Summer” temps and then it spikes to the 80s – one is not used to that. And in that “one” … I mean ME! Why on earth did I choose spandex as my fabric of choice for the day? I felt like I was wearing a rubber wet suit! I couldn’t find shade fast enough! The person who was practically praying to the universe for hot days and endless sunshine was feeling like the Wicked Witch of the West after water was thrown on her!
I was melting!
I skip-jumped from one patch of shade to another and completely cut across some construction (NO ADMITTANCE) zone just to get to the shaded sidewalk on the other side! After just a few minutes of said sun and warmth, I had become a slobberpuss of sweat! I looked like I had jumped into that fountain! Even my earlobes were dripping sweat and by the amount of rivulets running down my front and back, I figured my boobs had already drowned and my butt was next. I was very glad I didn’t have a mirror as I’m sure I looked just lovely … in a drowned rat sort of way. But, strike up the band … Summer had arrived!
Now you have to understand that up on this island and in the NW, Summer is fleeting … like a day or week or two. No, seriously … we don’t have “SUMMER” like everyone else has Summer. While other people (in other non-NW areas) are bbq’ing and wearing shorts, we are under a burn ban so no grills are fired up (and everyone is basically vegetarian here and tofu doesn’t exactly do well on a grill anyway) so no fragrant sizzling steak aromas. The grass is dead so no yummy fresh mown lawn smells. No kids playing cuz everyone here is at least 10 years my senior. At least. And no one is outside cuz either everyone thinks it’s too hot (due to their still wearing a jacket or lightweight polar fleece) or once the sun goes down … too cold. Ridiculous.
And, crazy to me because I want warmth and sunshine and all things Summer! I want fireflies and humidity and thunderstorms … fresh mown lawns, croquet and chicken on the grill … hot, sticky days and balmy nights, and lemonade on the porch! You know … SUMMER!
I know I’m not going to get those Summer things here but I’ll settle for warmth and sunshine. And if I have to go about the first few days of our NW Summer looking like I got hosed down – so be it! I’ll survive the humiliation of over-active sweat glands … but I’ll enjoy the hell out of the warmth and sun.
And so, here it is Sunday night … the last few days have been over 80 degrees on the island. At 10pm we are a wonderfully luscious 68 degrees (which is warmer than our highs for the past month or two). I can take this! I can forego all the other Summer things I miss (for a while) but to have a few fabulous over 80 degree days is really wonderful and it reignites the fire in my cold and soddened soul. I’ve had the windows open for 3 days and nights (omg – unheard of!) and am loving all the little breezes that come in any of the wide open windows – carrying the music of the wind chimes with them.
I’m off to sit under the stars for a bit and enjoy this yummy air.
After all, it’s Summertime and the living is … easy.