Your memories of long car trips reminded me of my youth. Sometime in the mid 1960s my dad purchased a used Rambler station wagon. Pink with a black top. And since we lived in Dallas, having working A/C was a must. This car’s A/C didn’t work well so dad hired a local mechanic to repair the unit.
So, on the day we were to leave on our summer “vacation”, we all piled in the car. There were three kids: my younger sister, my younger brother, and me, the oldest. Mom and Dad sat up front (of course), my sister got the middle seat, and my brother and I were relegated to the rear compartment. With our toys ;-)
Dad and Mom were excited as we took off on our cross country adventure. The A/C worked . . . Sort of. The compressor cooled the air but the fan hardly moved the air. Oh, it moved it enough to cool the front seat. So well that mom quickly donned a sweater. And some of the cool air made it to the middle seat where my sister happily played with her dolls.
But the rear compartment where my brother and I were relegated? No cool air. In fact, it was hot. Very hot. So, after about an hour we both took off our shirts. Another hour passed and we slipped off our pants. We were sweltering.
And so as cars passed us by, in one glance they would see a young mom wearing a sweater, a young girl playing with her dolls, and two pre-teen boys, fighting. In their underwear.
That’s one memory I have of summer: watching America pass by that Rambler’s windows, while dressed in my whitey tighties, fighting with my younger brother, as other families drove by, laughing, at our crazy family.
Thank you so much for sharing this story, Mark - I loved it!! I assume our car had air conditioning since I don't remember being hot. No A/C plus the motion sickness would have been impossible. I would have landed in a New Mexico hospital along the way. To this day, I still cannot sit in the back seat of a car without feeling a bit green.
Have you considered posting this experience as a Note? It is so beautifully written and it would be perfect just as it is. Think about it. It's vacation season...! And thank you again - I so enjoyed the laugh!!
There's so much to love about this post, though I'm sorry and commiserate with you on summer-bah humbug!
I have this totally unresearched and probably unfounded theory that if you're born in a particular season, that's the one you're most comfortable in. But, if I remember correctly, you just had a birthday, so I'm totally off-base, but I like the thought. LOL.
What an interesting theory, Paulette, but yes, I was born in June. Even worse, I was born in Ohio in that wet heat that makes me even more miserable! Maybe I’m the exception that proves the rule. (Is that still a thing?!)
I’m right with you, Cathy. I am NOT a summer girlie. The moment the mercury climbs past 70, I start dreaming of fall - boots and sweaters and scarves. And now that my body generates its own heat waves via hot flashes, I long for cooler days with even more ardor. Stay safe out there! Fall is coming!!! 🎃👻🍁🍄🦃❄️💜
Another non-summer fan - I love that!!! Our heat wave broke this morning and I am blissfully enjoying the cool breeze coming through the once again open windows. I hope you are feeling that cool breeze, too!
Cathy, I love these posts - these Random Conversations that open doorways to kindness, intrigue and even the past; like the man talking about the "spirit of summer" and then you explore the spirit of summer and the other seasons and what it’s like from your city. I too got a chuckle with your closing about “heading into 90”. 😁🧡
Thank you so much for this, Rhaine! I wasn’t sure if I should post it and was on the fence until the moment I finally tapped the button. I don’t whine much, but grumpy me sure did here. I’m happy to know you enjoyed my “90” faux pas. I laughed hysterically at myself!
Cathy, I used to love heat when I was younger, but no longer do well with it. I can't imagine 90 degrees!!! Anything above 80 degrees challenges me. So, I'm with you when it comes to wondering when Autumn will arrive.
Thanks for sharing the anecdote of your text message with your California friend. It gave me a chuckle, too.
Your memories of long car trips reminded me of my youth. Sometime in the mid 1960s my dad purchased a used Rambler station wagon. Pink with a black top. And since we lived in Dallas, having working A/C was a must. This car’s A/C didn’t work well so dad hired a local mechanic to repair the unit.
So, on the day we were to leave on our summer “vacation”, we all piled in the car. There were three kids: my younger sister, my younger brother, and me, the oldest. Mom and Dad sat up front (of course), my sister got the middle seat, and my brother and I were relegated to the rear compartment. With our toys ;-)
Dad and Mom were excited as we took off on our cross country adventure. The A/C worked . . . Sort of. The compressor cooled the air but the fan hardly moved the air. Oh, it moved it enough to cool the front seat. So well that mom quickly donned a sweater. And some of the cool air made it to the middle seat where my sister happily played with her dolls.
But the rear compartment where my brother and I were relegated? No cool air. In fact, it was hot. Very hot. So, after about an hour we both took off our shirts. Another hour passed and we slipped off our pants. We were sweltering.
And so as cars passed us by, in one glance they would see a young mom wearing a sweater, a young girl playing with her dolls, and two pre-teen boys, fighting. In their underwear.
That’s one memory I have of summer: watching America pass by that Rambler’s windows, while dressed in my whitey tighties, fighting with my younger brother, as other families drove by, laughing, at our crazy family.
Thank you so much for sharing this story, Mark - I loved it!! I assume our car had air conditioning since I don't remember being hot. No A/C plus the motion sickness would have been impossible. I would have landed in a New Mexico hospital along the way. To this day, I still cannot sit in the back seat of a car without feeling a bit green.
Have you considered posting this experience as a Note? It is so beautifully written and it would be perfect just as it is. Think about it. It's vacation season...! And thank you again - I so enjoyed the laugh!!
There's so much to love about this post, though I'm sorry and commiserate with you on summer-bah humbug!
I have this totally unresearched and probably unfounded theory that if you're born in a particular season, that's the one you're most comfortable in. But, if I remember correctly, you just had a birthday, so I'm totally off-base, but I like the thought. LOL.
What an interesting theory, Paulette, but yes, I was born in June. Even worse, I was born in Ohio in that wet heat that makes me even more miserable! Maybe I’m the exception that proves the rule. (Is that still a thing?!)
Thanks so much for helping me through this!!
I'm sure it's me just making stuff up in my head, as I'm a Christmas Eve baby and I prefer winter months. My husband, a July Leo, thinks I'm cuckoo.
Stay cool!
Maybe you prefer the winter months because they are the best...!! 🤣
I’m right with you, Cathy. I am NOT a summer girlie. The moment the mercury climbs past 70, I start dreaming of fall - boots and sweaters and scarves. And now that my body generates its own heat waves via hot flashes, I long for cooler days with even more ardor. Stay safe out there! Fall is coming!!! 🎃👻🍁🍄🦃❄️💜
Another non-summer fan - I love that!!! Our heat wave broke this morning and I am blissfully enjoying the cool breeze coming through the once again open windows. I hope you are feeling that cool breeze, too!
Cathy, I love these posts - these Random Conversations that open doorways to kindness, intrigue and even the past; like the man talking about the "spirit of summer" and then you explore the spirit of summer and the other seasons and what it’s like from your city. I too got a chuckle with your closing about “heading into 90”. 😁🧡
Thank you so much for this, Rhaine! I wasn’t sure if I should post it and was on the fence until the moment I finally tapped the button. I don’t whine much, but grumpy me sure did here. I’m happy to know you enjoyed my “90” faux pas. I laughed hysterically at myself!
Cathy, I used to love heat when I was younger, but no longer do well with it. I can't imagine 90 degrees!!! Anything above 80 degrees challenges me. So, I'm with you when it comes to wondering when Autumn will arrive.
Thanks for sharing the anecdote of your text message with your California friend. It gave me a chuckle, too.
Autumn cannot come fast enough...! I am so happy to know you agree, Sandra!
I am also happy to know my misunderstanding brought you a chuckle. It's the reaction I had hoped for!