The Start of Summer

Memorial Day weekend always signals the start of summer here in Maryland. The pools open up, the beach traffic gets insane as the hoards head east over the Bay Bridge, and I can finally finish planting everything in my garden without an unexpected cold snap that will kill everything (this has happened to me more times than I can count). I love this time of year. There is the promise of a little more freedom, and I find that my grocery visits are more fun when I don’t have to think about items in terms of packability for a school lunch. We all take a breath of relief at having a few days without nonstop homework and practices and projects and last minute necessities. Meeting a friend for a cold, salty margarita feels like such a gift and a truly great idea! Summer is terrific. Overall, I’m a fan.

The only real problem is the heat. I’ve always run hot. Growing up in Florida, I was barefoot most of the time. Those same feet always had to stay out from under the covers at night. It has only gotten worse from there. I’ve tried cooling sheets, “Chillows” (yes, that’s a cooling pillow), and carry fans with me most places. Now, at 48, I’m at the point in my life where I actually feel like I’m boiling alive. We were at a crowded concert recently and I thought I might pass out. Jason put his hand in the middle of my back (flat palm right in the center) and leaned in to ask if I was okay. I felt like he had taken a blow torch to my core and I jolted forward and accused him of being a villain. Oddly, if you take my temperature, I am usually cooler than a lot of people, right around 97.9 degrees. Yet, I can’t sleep unless my knees (and, of course, my feet) are exposed to the air. That air is usually below 65 degrees at night and with a fan blowing directly on me.

So, I have a goal each year in the summer time. Enjoy the more relaxed schedule, the outdoor concerts, the al fresco dining, the impromptu cocktails with friends, and try not to melt away or implode. It’s a challenge. I am up for it, as always.