Schedules Be Gone

 

Summer time ~ 

a world of tomorrows

when schedules melt 

    in the heat 

  shift and sway 

       with the wind to 

relieve us of 

  a tedium that has 

become too normal  ~ when we 

can go our own way like 

  

  a drive down a road dappled in sunlight, 

   

      past grasses and wheat fields, 

  stroll through a farmers’ market

share an outdoor concert with friends

or just relax on a beach while 

children of all ages play in a crystal lake 

 

     to end the day in well earned sleep.

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”

~ Charles Bowden, author

Awakening

Not awake yet 

shuffling through 

the sludge of sleep, 

walking and talking 

until 

movement shook me 

gently awake 

dregs of sleep drifting 

like the heat of the day 

settling into the trees 

as the sun slips 

   

   down and down 

to the horizon 

  

   painting the land in 

deep yellows and golds. 

With the soft breath 

  

  of a cooling wind, 

I walk on.

“Rise up nimbly and go on your strange journey.”

~ Rumi

A Reminder

In the heat of summer

 a spring bouquet

reminds us of cooler days.

“Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.”

~ Lily Pulitzer

(1931 ~2013)

An Awkward Explanation

Scrolling through my digital photo album looking for an interesting picture, I came upon this one. 

I remember tilting my head back, hoping I wouldn’t get dizzy, fall and land in an ungainly way, but would try

to look cool, and explain to some kind passerby that I merely wanted to take a photo 

of the leaves against the sky that suggested the tropics. 

Tropics that I’ve never seen except the last few days 

here on the prairies in over 30 degree 

Centigrade heat. But this photo was taken in 

June between rains that are a distant memory.

“There isn’t always an explanation for everything.”

~ Ernest Hemingway

Safety in the Heat

I love being outside with the morning sun 

on the other side of the building letting me take my 

breakfast and my writing onto my shady balcony.

The forecast tells me the sun will be turning up 

the temperature throughout the day. In the morning 

I am safe and happy. Safety is a big deal for me and 

in the afternoon heat, safety is best kept indoors. 

Except I was restless. Walking somewhere, anywhere, is my treat; my absolute joy. In the afternoon, do I stay indoors or do I crazily brave the wilting flowers, the melting pavement, the hot cement under my feet and hope the wind is cool enough? On a good day, I’d be off to the grocery store, the pet store, the hair dresser, or just a walk at the lake. But today, despite a clear blue sky, despite a wind that may or may not be friendly, is not a good day. 

I draw the line at being told I can't go for a walk ~ it's too dangerous, you know, with the heat and your epilepsy. But I've been stable for a couple of decades now; merely faint stirrings in some mornings. No tsunami of seizure activity. But I know to hesitate, to breathe and to make a plan before getting all stubborn and taking a bus to the store. Sure I get my walks in, but at what price? Excessive heat + bossy epilepsy can mean the tsunami wall can get knocked down. And believe you me, the heat today is excessive. So I made a plan: test it out by going for a walk around the block. My test results? Too hot for anything more than around the block! No seizure activity, but my thinking got a little wonky until I cooled off. 

(I did nip into the gas station for a small carton of ice cream before taking my perspiring self into the cool.)

“Epilepsy is something nobody knows much about. It’s just a 

part of me, part of my head, part of what’s happening 

in there. Sometimes something in my brain triggers it off.”

~ Neil Young, musician

Crisped

I thought it odd, lacy baby’s breath with 

no blossoms or white blossoms still tightly 

wrapped within themselves, their delicate 

stems a gauzy cloud. No gardener was there 

to ask my questions so I looked to the pink roses, blossoming through the white picket fence, a beautiful backdrop to the spent baby’s breath. Bravely blooming they did seem a reminder of the cruel heat of the past week’s end, explaining the missing dainty white flowers on the gauzy stems.

“We should enjoy this summer, flower by flower,

 as if it were to be the last one we’ll see.”

~ André Gide, French author

(1869 - 1951)

Weather Watch

Out of a sudden wind to recover

The sun 

has yet to reach its 

zenith, shaded by a tree, my 

coffee’s barely lukewarm and 

will not grow cold today. 

Already flies are directionless, 

lazy. Barely a breeze ruffles the 

leaves without a refreshing caress. 

My potato plant wilts in the 

morning heat, full sun still to drain

water from its leaves. Muffled thunder 

merely suggests respite from rain; 

a passing puff of white scatters 

a dozen raindrops here and there

In the chill

of a coffee shop, chatter avoids 

talk of the weather, the heat, when 

it will change, when walking quickly

is safe, but grandchildren, movies, history 

food, anything but the heat that stifles 

conversations and one step at a time.

“Weather forecast for tonight: dark.”

~ George Carlin

On an Afternoon Walk ~ Out of the Heat

When I see squirrels, they are usually racing up a tree, scampering across the street, running up and down roof tops or jumping branch to branch. This little fellow was on the ground, walking slowly up the sidewalk in front of me, about four feet from me. It glanced back at me a couple of times, but wasn’t spooked by my presence. At all. I really was concerned because he was moving so slowly. When the little one got to the fence, it did scramble up all right, turned around and looked at me. Just sat and looked at me. I took my time readying my cell phone camera. It didn't move from his perch. Even while I walked past, it didn’t move.

Why am I telling you all this? Yesterday morning, I listened to a CBC Ideas episode about how rising world temperatures affect animal populations. Yesterday afternoon, the temperature was over 30 degrees Centigrade. - it was just after 3pm. We are expecting similar temperatures for the next three days. I do hope that the little squirrel had a water source close by.

“You don’t live on earth, you are passing through.”

~ Rumi

On an Afternoon Walk - Heat Warning

Usually a proper walk is when 

cool breeze caresses my skin

sun is warm and gentle,

birds sing, hop through the branches

waves lap at the lake shore………….

But not today - 

temperatures soared to the heights

breeze muddled hot air

sun burned through my hat

birds nestled deep in the trees

concrete too hot for bare feet.

But it’s only temporary……..

“It was the type of day that could wilt a metal gatepost.”

~ Colin Cotterill, Thirty-Three Teeth

Melted

After shopping for groceries this afternoon, I could have gone right home. It was 35 degrees Centigrade! I decided to be brave - or maybe foolish. But there was ice cream involved ~ just a block away. 

So, I stopped by Elle’s Cafe again today - a different flavour this time: a salted caramel sundae.

In the minutes that it took from the ice cream window to sitting on the bench only steps away, the ice cream was already pooling in and around the salted caramel syrup. But I soldiered on and finally drank up the last drop. There was no time to take a still photo ~ and I knew I'd better eat before it was too late! 

On my way home I chanced upon these lovely *petunias braving the heat and the tepid breeze. They became the stand-in photo for the melted ice cream.

*Authors correction: flowers are ‘petunias’. Original text stated ‘pansies’

“You can pour melted ice cream on regular ice cream. It’s like a sauce!”

~ Chris Pratt

Alice Lake

 Patios sweltered under

 stifling heat that settled 

 under leafy trees

 ruffled by breezes 

 cooled by the lake

 ruffled by speed boats

 bare feet hopped 

 into refreshing water. 

 Toes and heels nestled

 into soft wet sand

 Capris rolled up ~

 up to the knees cooled.

 beach party wrapped up

 ~ a fun birthday party awaits!

“What dreadful hot weather we have! 

It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.”

~ Jane Austen

On an Afternoon Walk - In the Heat

Temptation ~ 

Bus stop steps to the right

No shade in this heat

Ice cream store one block to the left

Shade and delicious ice cream

Bus #10 pulled up!

Sigh…… Ice cream will have to wait.

“Get thee behind me Satan!”

~ P.C.Cast, Marked