Here it is June, and the temperatures are still on the coolish side.
Now do not take this wrong, I like it when it is cooler. Heat does
nothing for me....I am thankful for Air Conditioning.
Sleeping cool with covers is the best. I love sinking into the
deep depths of the cool crisp sheets.
But come on, it is June, it should not be cool enough for a jacket
now. It should be bare foot time, grass tickling toes time, time to
lay on the cool lawn without getting chills or wet clothing.
Now I hope I will remember this when it is July and August and so
hot that the grass begs for rain and the critters swarm to any and all
water they can find for a drink. I usually am not out doors much unless
it is before the bugs bite and after they go away in the fall....so now I am
enjoying the extended Spring weather.
Most years anymore, we barely see Spring before Summer's heat blasts
down on us chasing most of us to the Malls or Library to get cool.
Can you imagine not having air conditioners? They are so common here now
that there are very few who do not have some kind of inexpensive way to keep
cool and dry. You can buy one for a window now for less than a hundred dollars.
They are energy efficient and quiet. No more noisy fans, or screen doors
bapping when children run in and out. Now it is close it off, shut it up,
keep it out.
Guess I miss those old days in some ways. My husband always comments
on the time when no homes had air conditioning and how they had to sleep
4 boys to a bed in the attic with no fan....gosh it is a wonder they survived!
We always had a fan, and most of the time there was a cool evening breeze
or a rain to gently cool things down. Of course I know we could take
more heat back then, because our bodies were better tempered for it
than they are nowdays. Now we are spoiled by being comfortable.
Being by the water in summer is a dream come true for most children.
For me it was common. Going down to one of our two ponds was always
a discovery time. Many was the time I explored and watched as natural
critters did their thing. I would while away the days of Summer lying on our
lawn, looking up at the clouds going by.
Many imaginations took place as I laid there with my doggy by my side,
or my cat always gently purring.
I would travel in my mind and explore the farm we lived on....fun at every turn,
adventure around every corner. I would climb a tree, go into the hayloft of the
barn, or would walk on the crumbling wall of an old rock garage building.
We had pets of all shapes and sizes. Cats, dogs, or even sometimes wild
critters tamed. Just like a scene out of some of the movies I watched later on.
I did not think of my life as an adventure then. I just thought of the times
I experienced as daily life. (and probably quite boring)
Taking care of the pet bunnies our Grandparents brought us one Easter.
They got some sort of disease and died soon after....just as we had learned
to love them. It was my first true experience with death. I never forgot it.
I do not remember the bunny names..so I must not have let myself get too
attached. (some cutsie name I would expect)
I DID learn never to eat smart pills, as my Dad and Uncle Don
called the little deposits they would leave in and under the cage
they lived in.
Dressing up my baby puppy in a little doll dress. Even though he was a he
and was not too crazy about the dress, he tolerated much for the love
it showed him. He was a good dog...and was named Sprite....
I adored that little guy.
I do not remember what happened to him...but he
reminded me of Lassie...even though he was a mutt.
I have always been drawn to the mutts of the world.
Going for a walk to the neighbors. If we were lucky, they would volunteer
to take us to the swimming hole to cool off.
That woman was a saint.
She would always drop whatever she was doing to make us kids feel special.
Tea and crumpets.....pie and cake, ice tea....it was
always there and always lucious to taste.
Hiding in the Hayloft.
Playing hide and seek with my brothers.
Even when we were not supposed to be there...that was always the thrill
of the adventure. Going where we were not normally allowed to be, hoping to
never be found out by our parents. We only once had a close call, and learned
why they said to stay out of places we didnt belong.
I will tell that adventure another time. Let me just say, it involved
snakes!
Anyway, as another Summer quickly approaches, I sit thinking back to days
gone by.
I think of how vastly different these summers are from those.
Although I almost miss the old days...I realize I would not want to go back.
Such things are best left in the memory.
I can still enjoy my air conditioned rooms when the blistering hot days begin.
Hugs till next time,
Katie
