Credit: Wesley Tingey / Unsplash.com
Prepare for the obvious: It is hot. It is insanely hot. Triple digits should not ever appear on a thermometer in Pennsylvania. It just isn’t built for this kind of heat.
We are all hot. It is all we seem to talk about, share on social media, and endure, for the past several days. As record temperatures continue to keep us all uncomfortable, I often think of those far worse off than me. I worry about those without a home. I worry about those without air conditioning.
There are so many people in this world that are in danger when temps dip or rise far out of the norm. You can blame global warming and an American population refusing to conform to save its own planet. You should absolutely check on elderly neighbors, be sure young children are not outside without cooling options such as a pool or even a garden hose. If you know neighbors without AC, be sure they are staying hydrated, cooled at least by fans, and have options to reach out for aid as needed.
Whatever the cause of these ungodly temps, it is getting more out of control as time marches on, at least from my perspective. In my hometown, we had a frost advisory … on JUNE 2! While long winters are common in Northwestern Pennsylvania, this is just getting out of hand. Just a few weeks later, we’re trying to dodge record highs. It is a strange climate out there!
Now we swing to the opposite end of the spectrum. I doubt I need to provide tips for you, as they’re already on our news sites, but its always helpful to have a reminder.
These times do make me consider even shopping in a mall (not a favorite pastime for me) just to soak up the free AC. Maybe head to a movie theater … for the whole day. Just enjoy hours of film as you rest comfortably in a cool, dark theater. Check out some books in your local library and stick around to read them right there. Libraries are a great spot for some cooling air conditioning, and there is no charge to enjoy the books!
Of course, we are to all stay hydrated, wear loose clothing, and avoid working out in the peak hours. Try to stay in spaces with circulating air, even if by fan only, to keep the air moving with open doors and windows.
Hopefully, this wildly high heat level ends soon. It is tough to stay cool. Somehow, staying warm always seems easier. You can add layers of clothing. You can bury yourself in blankets. You can hibernate indoors. Yes, of course, there are still populations that struggle, that perhaps do not have those options, but I feel like warming options outnumber cooling ones.
Once you get hot, you’re limited in choices. You only can get so naked, and even then, in only the most private of spaces. You may not have a pool or money to hit up costly movie theaters.
In this kind of weather, it is almost impossible to dress up or look cute for a special event. When it’s cold, you can add layers, but in this heat, you’re bound to melt in the lightest of clothing. Make-up is basically pointless, and don’t get me started on wearing a bra in this heat.
Perhaps it is my own excess weight or being stuck in a perimenopausal state, but this heat is for the birds. I am very much over it. It is like a hot flash on 24/7 overdrive without reprieve.
And, while I love a good beach, miss the ocean’s waves, and could almost always go for an icy tropical drink, having to function in daily life with the temps skyrocketing is nearly impossible. I don’t want to do much of anything but sit as still as possible in front of an air conditioner. If it insists on being this hot, I should have full pool, beach, swim-up bar, and ice access at all times.
Cooking becomes unbearable. Turning an oven on, or even a stove at this point, is not remotely an option. It somewhat works out as most are too hot to eat, too. But you are rather limited in cool options and take-out gets pricey.
Somehow, Mother Nature really has us all in a bind. My mind struggles to focus on nearly anything else. It is hot. And today, that’s about all I know.
