Heat Wave

It has been shockingly hot here in town for the last couple of days, as it is throughout much of the country. I have a problem with heat and humidity - major heat intolerance, and have to be careful, but I finally had to go out today to mail some sales and do some errands. Unfortunately, I didn't get out as early as I had planned, and like Mad Dogs and Englishmen, went out in the midday sun, even though I had in hand an iced smoothie that I'd made and a large sunhat. If I had just gone to the Post Office and home, I would have been alright, but no, I HAD to go to the library, which was not a wise decision. Walking uphill in bright sun, I began to feel unsteady and I ducked into the local supermarket, which is thankfully, freezing, but I was still very overheated and it took a long time to cool down. People were moving slowly there and it was all I could do to not knock everything and everyone over in my path in order to get to the freezers.

I grabbed a bag of frozen peas and ran it all over my face and neck, but it took awhile to feel better and free of panic. Nobody noticed my distress save for one young man who was filling the freezers with other food. He came over to see if I was OK, brought me an empty plastic milk carton to sit on, and a bag of frozen corn in case I needed a replacement for the peas. I am always touched by acts of kindness and try to perform them myself as often as possible.

Nice young man at the C-Town, I thank you for helping me get through a scary half an hour. Walking home with a bag of Gatorade, I made the two blocks to my apartment but had to buy a cup of ice from the deli on the way...they only had a few left, so at 75 cents a cup, they were doing OK.

I passed a neighbor of mine carrying golf clubs for a day on the links, so I guess there's always someone who thinks they're impervious to danger on days like these. He's an angry and noisy guy with whom I have been at loggerheads for years, but I hope he survived the day.

The thunder and lightning storm passing through helped to cool temps down from 93 to a balmy 71 degrees, but I am sitting in a room with both an air conditioner and a fan blowing on me - I am the only one I know who searches for drafts to sit in front of. My 10 year old air conditioner has been on for 2 days, and I sure hope that it survives a little while longer.

Another summer in the city...pray to the Gods of Consolidated Edison to keep their grids in good order so we can be blackout-free!