Summer - Bah Humbug!

Heat, Humidity, and a Very Grumpy Me

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Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

I just got home from voting in the NYC primary election (it’s Tuesday, as I start to write), and am sitting with my friends Ben & Jerry, sipping an iced espresso (with extra, extra ice).

I left the apartment with my hair pulled back in a tight knot in a failing attempt to hold the frizz at bay, visor on my head to keep the sweltering sun off my face when it found its way through the trees, vigorously waving my hand fan in the hope of staying slightly less miserable.

I made it to the polling place at The New School two streets away without feeling too overwhelmed – the longest short walk ever. Once inside, heaven…!! The room was blissfully cool. I wanted to stay forever!

There was one person ahead of me and we started talking – about the heat, of course. He then said something that got me thinking. He did not like the heat and humidity, but he did like the “spirit of summer.” Does summer have a spirit?!

The Spirit of the Seasons

I do not like summer. I do not enjoy being hot. It brings out the absolute worst in me. I start dreading it the first day of spring, knowing that the heat and humidity will soon be here. Bring me a blast of cold air. Let me wear a sweater, put on a jacket, wrap a scarf around my neck. Please!

I will admit that summer berries and melons are a delicious delight! And I’m thrilled with the array of incredible summer vegetables at the farmers market. But walking out the door of my building today and seeing 100 degrees on my phone, food was the last thing on my mind.

I suppose that the spirit of summer is one of slowing down, enjoying the outdoors more than usual, spending more time with friends. But that is how I live my life. I’m not crazed with things I have to do. I enjoy walking here autumn through spring, deep in a metaphorical conversation with my city. That doesn’t say summer to me.

It’s the spirit of the winter holidays in NYC that I enjoy the most. The season starts with the Halloween dog costume parade at Washington Square and Tompkins Square Parks, and the human parade up Sixth Avenue, all of which the city embraces with the joy of a ten-year-old child. Thanksgiving and the December holidays soon follow. The city dresses up to celebrate – from the sublime to the just plain fun!

People are excited to be here – bundled up to stay warm in the chilly air. Laughter is everywhere. Fingers point here and there to share what was just discovered. It is a joyous time. Commercial? Absolutely! But we also have places that allow for quiet, peaceful reflection. That’s where you will most often find me.

Summer Vacations – My Early Years

Summer and I did not get off to the best start. I grew up in Arizona, where summer was the season to escape the heat – in a swimming pool, out of town, or both. Every so many years, out of town meant driving to see aunts, uncles and cousins in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Those cross-country drives were a nightmare for me. Each trip started with a day and a half in the back seat of a car, eating sleeve after sleeve of saltines, trying to keep motion sickness at bay for a few miles at a time. And that was only to Indiana. More time, more saltines, more misery were still to come while driving to and from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Then we had the long trek back to Arizona.

There was a particularly unpleasant vacation smell that lingered in the car long after we arrived back home. It was very distinctive and took ages to fully dissipate. I can still taste the memory of that smell.

It was on those Midwest trips that I first experienced humidity. I remember a summer storm in Indiana that I was happy to see, thinking that it would cool the air as it did in Tucson. But no – the air became so saturated after it stopped raining that water droplets remained in the air. I could see the air. How was that even possible?!

It felt close to that today.

A Reflection

I never complain about the cold in winter – and it can get pretty cold here! Summer is my season to complain. And in my misery, I am happy to say that several of my neighbors feel exactly the same as I do. We commiserate. We share kind words and sentiments. It becomes bearable – together.

Is it autumn yet?

End Note

After my return from voting, I heard from a dear friend in California who was celebrating her birthday. Her emoji-filled text mentioned “heading into 90.” Given my current state of mind, I responded with a misery-filled NYC weather report. She replied, “I was talking about age!”

I never could remember how many years apart we were. And oh, how I appreciated that laugh! I was still hot, but I was happier.