Day 1295: I'm melting!

Heat sucks the life out of me.  It was only 85 degrees, but with 87 percent humidity.  I strolled around the yard this morning, slowly deadheading the lilies and pulling a few weeds.  By the time the job was done, I had a terrible headache that persisted for much of the day.  The pool has warmed to 83 degrees so even swimming was a challenge.  To complete my required mile, I divided the laps into three segments over several hours.

When I think back to other summers spent in Morocco, China and Uzbekistan, the heat was the most significant obstacle.  In Uzbekistan, we spent most of our days taking classes in air conditioned rooms.  Our hotel room was air conditioned, but also had the benefit of lovely evening breezes.  At night, we'd rinse out our clothes, hang them on the balcony and they dry in an hour.  Supper was at ten o'clock in the patio of a little Mediterranean cafe nearby.  We munched on pita bread with hummus and baba ghanouj and talked till midnight.  Orange Fanta sustained me for the whole month.  Only a few times was I overcome by the heat.

Northern China's temperature was quite manageable, but the high level of  pollutants compromised air quality.   The heat and pollution of Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Macau were brutal.  Eastern Morocco  was the toughest location.  Here in Fredonia, we're fortunate there are only a few days a year of oppressive heat and humidity.  I'm sure we won't ever live in a subtropical climate.