Temperature Crazy Is All Relative

Do you ever read a blogger's post and for whatever reason it inspires you to write your own? I do. And I like to give credit where it's due. Yesterday I read a post at Good Day, Regular People by Alexandra, aka: The Empress. I was struck by the irony of more than half the country sweltering in the heat while I've been pouting about our gray and clouds and rain. Anyweatherstatement, keep reading for my take on the weather:

There's been a heat wave all across the country. Everywhere except here, that is. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we not so patiently await for summer to begin on or around July 4th. That is the norm.

I do have memories of a few summers where it was hot before the kids got out of school (which typically happens the third week of June in these parts). And I might have one memory of wearing shorts and a tank top on the Fourth of July. In general, however, we look to July 5th.

Now to be completely fair, August is the most fantabulous (it's a word, trust me) month you can imagine here. Usually. Most years. Drop dead gorgeous Augusts. And September? It's our little secret that we send our little ones back to school, breath a sigh of relief and enjoy yet another month of drop dead gorgeous weather.

But people, it does not get hot here. Okay, okay, a couple of years ago we had a hot spell. Like over 100 degrees hot. You would have thought it was freaking Armageddon. I'm quite sure they sent news reporters outside to see if an egg would fry on the sidewalk. For real. Honest. But you have to understand, 98.3% of people in the Pacific Northwest do not have air conditioning. Why the hell would we? We think 80 degrees is a heat wave. If it hits 90, all you hear are the words "record heat" on the news.

Me? I was not really meant to be a northwesterner. I really love heat. Not 103+ with 90% humidity. That's not heat, that's hell on earth. Been there (Branson, MO in August), done that. I know, many of you live in that shizzle. That, my friends, is nuttier than a bag of almonds. No, give me a steady 82 degrees, maybe a light breeze, where I know I can get up in the morning and put on shorts and possibly need a light sweatshirt after the sun goes down - that is my kind of heaven. I stop wearing a sweatshirt when the temperature inside my house hits 75. That is comfortable to me.

So when we do get summer, I am content. The most you'll hear me say is, "Beautiful out, isn't it?"

However, we have a special breed of folks around here. They like the cool weather and the gray skies. Like it, I tell you. They don't mind the rain. I shake my head with a lack of comprehension when I hear them admit it. My cousin, who I adore, she is one of them. Breaks my heart. When the temps hit 80, they can be heard saying crazy stuff: "It's just too hot for me." "Hope this heat breaks soon." "Whoo, I just can't get anything done in this heat." Or to my absolute horror: "Phew, can't wait until fall." WHAT? Who are these aliens that inhabit the land in which I live?

It's all relative, I guess. It's supposed to be 86 here by Sunday. The first person that says, "It's too hot!"... well, let's just hope they aren't standing near me. This crazy chick? I'm in my happy zone - total 'relative' weather perfection.

***Ally
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