Hot enough for ya?

“Darn, it’s a hot summer,” said Carol. “Do you know how many days more than last year over ninety we’ve had compared to last year?”

Not enough, I thought. Last year was pleasant, but I like summer so hot you can’t wait to get into the water. Heat evokes associations with fun in the sun. That is, my childhood recollections are of blistering hot summers and cold and snowy winters. I’m not alone in that. It feels more moderate, now.

It got hot long before the official start of summer. I recall hot days in an urban multiple story brick school with no air conditioning. They didn’t call off school for the temperature back then. The family car was an oven and the coveted seat was right beside that small triangular vent window. It was not unusual for someone in the neighborhood to lose a window to the heat by leaving them all rolled up. There wasn’t much relief at night because all the masonry of the city retained heat. I would sometimes sleep out on the fire escape (aka burglary assistance structure).

I worked in a garage, fixing cars and installing tires and batteries. By the end of the day, I looked like a streaky Al Jolson. Few things felt better than the shower that followed. On Saturdays, “Five O’ Clock World” (The Vogues) would be streaming through my mind in anticipation as I did that in preparation for dates. Still does, sometimes.

So, yeah, it’s sizzling out. And, I don’t think it’s coincidental that the fun is non-stop. It’s summer. It’s supposed to be hot.