THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
It doesn’t matter how many summers I’ve lived through, each new one comes as a shock to my senses. Every year I stand amazed, sweating in the heat that I know I’ve underestimated.
I plan to not be surprised at the reality, I try to remember the intense feeling and brace for it, but it never works. Even though I remember the heat from previous seasons, the reality hits like a hot slap to the face.
I find it fascinating that the brain, with all that it’s capable of, smoothes over the rough spots in the previous season of life. I write and speak a fair amount about the “good ole days.” I know those times weren’t perfect, there was difficult times then as there are now.
I believe it is the wisdom learned from hindsight that give us a sense of accomplishment, gratification, and even camaraderie. I think the brain and its function is by design. The events, especially traumatic ones, tend to soften with time.
If our brain held onto the details without yielding some of the crisp ones, we’d never be able to use the benefit of those times for our lives in the future or anyone else’s.
When I was in high school we didn’t have an air conditioner, only a swamp cooler. Swamp coolers work decent until the humidity gets up. No one minds being sticky with humidity if the temperature hovers around 100 degrees.
When the temp gets up around 110 with August humidity, as I mentioned before on this site, it ain’t no picnic.
While I try to recall the details of those 2-a-day football practices coupled with a worthless swamp cooler in a boxed in, no breeze tract house, the memory has softened. Just like I have physically as well.
While I can’t recall the sweating and frustration in exact detail, I do remember enough to know I would prefer not living like that again. Similarly, I’ve learned most of life’s lessons that way. I think they call it “the hard way.”
It is those experiences in life that help define and guide us. Despite those dog days of summer, I consider this place my home by choice.
I appreciate all of God’s creation. I enjoy the grand forests and cold air. I’m in awe and mesmerized by the oceans, but when I set my eyes just above a squint and settle them on the desert skyline, my heart beats easy and right…
It’s not perfect, no place is I guess. It certainly couldn’t be confused with the Garden of Eden. Sweating is a reality here. I also think it’s a gift to be able to be physical enough to do so.
I can’t lie and say I enjoy the profuse sweat that runs down the spine, with the muscles on both sides of the spine acting as river banks, directing the perspiration down the river, under the bridge of elastic underwear band into the nether regions, but they say, “you gotta take the good with the bad.”
There usually is a downside to everything I suppose. I’m not sure if the perfect spring or fall weather year round wouldn’t get a bit boring.
I’ve also heard it said, “variety is the spice of life.” Whatever the weather, I thank God for another day, each one is a gift and we’re called, “to be glad in it.”
So I am…
All seasons are good for different reasons. Maybe we should use the dog days of summer to grow and blossom like the crops that are designed to feed others…
Just don’t forget the water.
The Water that leads to eternal life.
Hazel
Monday, July 18, 2011 @ 5:51 pm
Enjoyed this post. Very nice description of Summer and being able to enjoy it even with the sweat! My mother had a swamp cooler at her place. We use fans until it gets too hot then we turn on the air.
Floyd
Monday, July 18, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
As I type this and it hit close to 110 degrees today and doesn’t feel much cooler than that outside right now, I thank God for the air conditioning! Thanks Hazel.
Nancy Kehr
Monday, July 18, 2011 @ 5:51 pm
Ahhh ha ha ha ha! I remember our swamp cooler – worthless is right! Many times the kids and I would bring out a sheet and lay around it at nigh hoping to cool off some.
Currently I live in the Central Valley in California. I have never know it it to be as cool as it has been around this time of year….usually triple digits many, many days straight. This year we have a break.
Good things God designed us as he did. I can remember considering a number of things I would NEVER wish to repeat. With each of my 5 kids, the pain of natural childbirth refreshed my memory…so did the labor! Or a tooth extraction gone poorly…. Thank God for His “smoothing of the rough spots.” LOL! Good post!
Floyd
Monday, July 18, 2011 @ 9:43 pm
Thanks Nancy. God most certainly did give us some mercy by designing our minds to numb with time a bit. The thoughts of the rough spots aren’t near as vivid as the reality of them. Glad it’s been a nice summer for you so far. It was relatively cool here until last week.
Jake
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 @ 10:37 pm
My will to live rises and falls with the temperature. No joke. I love summer and nearly willingly give up the ghost in Idaho winters. We don’t have a ton of snow in Boise but it’s cold enough to make anyone want to die. This summer’s been colder than usual, too…. I don’t know what to think about it. I want to move south. There you go, a whole lotta pissin’ and moanin’ at that one
Floyd
Thursday, July 28, 2011 @ 6:32 am
I don’t blame you, I’m not good in the cold. They say it’s easier to cool off than it is to warm up. Down here in the southwest though hot takes on a whole new meaning!
Pat
Friday, July 29, 2011 @ 9:04 pm
We had window fans when I was a kid. Still, I don’t ever remember it being as hot back then as it is now. Well, that was a ridiculous statement…it had to be just as hot! I think we have just gotten used to having air conditioning (“spoiled” is more like it). The humidity was (and still is) so bad that I remember puddles being on the hardwood floors when we got up in the morning. Now, as I go out to get into my car, the air is so thick I can hardly breathe from the high humidity. I, too, am grateful for air conditioning! My feeling is, you can put on enough to keep warm but you can’t take off enough to keep cool.
Funny how no matter where we live, we think we have the hottest summers/coldest winters and the grass is surely greener somewhere else.
I always enjoy reading your posts, Floyd.
Floyd
Saturday, July 30, 2011 @ 9:11 am
Thanks Pat. I always enjoy your input. I wonder sometimes if I could even endure what I once did? I’m not near as tough as I use to be!
brad gore
Monday, August 8, 2011 @ 8:31 am
Great post, as always. The month of July, as you know, is vacation time for me. It allows me to play a little more than any other time of year, especially golf. As a matter of fact, I play about 10 times a year with 8-9 times coming in July. What I’ved noticed about the hot summer in July, is the intense heat feels really hot when my golf game is hopeless, yet feels just fine, if I manage to strike to ball ok. So I’m beginning to think as you said, the brain is pretty powerful. Also as you said, all I really have to do on those tough golf days is stop look around and realize how fortunate I am in so many ways. I’ll thank God and go look for my ball in the desert.
Floyd
Monday, August 8, 2011 @ 8:36 am
Oh man, it might take you and I 8 hours to finish a round. I lost 18 balls in one round at Kierland! That is definitely the attitude, makes life just a little bit better and easier. Thanks Brad, I appreciate the feedback as always.