Midsummer Respite
It has been nasty hot the last few days, not to mention humid. The air has hung about like an oppressive dictator and commanded my every mood. It has made me sleepy and lazy.
Today was by far the worst, the very hottest, most humid and unpleasant. The parking lot was deserted in the shopping center when I pulled in, as if everyone was hiding in underground caves to beat the cruel summer sun. I had to go out. I had my bi-weekly manicure and pedicure appointment. Still the air was sticky in the car, with the extra air conditioning boost turned on, blowing on full speed. I immediately regretted going out, the second my face hit the air outside the car door.
I stepped into the shop, it was cooler, but by no means the meat locker it usually is. I sat down in my chair and turned on the little fan they have to dry your nails between coats and set it towards my damp face. As I sat there, a flash. We all looked around to see where it came from and a huge clap of thunder followed a few seconds later. For an hour, the lightning and thunder came in intervals, but not a drop of rain. I sat calmly while they worked on my hands and counted the flashes and thunder as I did when I was a little girl.
Finally, I was finished. I stepped outside and the air was hot and still, poised as if it waited for something. I walked into the parking lot and a huge gust of wind as warm as an oven whipped my hair, pulling it from the clips. Then I felt the chill, cold drop hit my face, hard as a slap. I looked into the sky and saw the drops begin to fall.
The wind came up with a vengence. I could smell the ozone wafting up from the pavement, the harbinger of dampness. I stood waiting to see what would happen. Suddenly, the sky opened up and the cold rain pelted down driven by the warm winds. I could feel the hot air and the cold rain penetrating my clothing and I stood still, enjoying the sensation.
As the rain violated the trees, crape myrtle and jacaranda blossoms filled the air. Swirling about in tiny whirlwinds on the ground or blowing high into the air, creating a bright pink and purple shower on their own, driven by the winds they surrounded me as I stood next to my car. Which coincidentally went to the car wash yesterday.
A few people came running from the stores, guarding their heads from the icy drops as if they were acid. I stood alone amongst the few cars until I was completely drenched from the rain, watching the blossoms blow around in fantastical patterns on the asphalt. Finally I got into my car and headed home, ending up in front of the storm. In my yard it began anew.
I do not think I have ever enjoyed rain as I did today.
Today was by far the worst, the very hottest, most humid and unpleasant. The parking lot was deserted in the shopping center when I pulled in, as if everyone was hiding in underground caves to beat the cruel summer sun. I had to go out. I had my bi-weekly manicure and pedicure appointment. Still the air was sticky in the car, with the extra air conditioning boost turned on, blowing on full speed. I immediately regretted going out, the second my face hit the air outside the car door.
I stepped into the shop, it was cooler, but by no means the meat locker it usually is. I sat down in my chair and turned on the little fan they have to dry your nails between coats and set it towards my damp face. As I sat there, a flash. We all looked around to see where it came from and a huge clap of thunder followed a few seconds later. For an hour, the lightning and thunder came in intervals, but not a drop of rain. I sat calmly while they worked on my hands and counted the flashes and thunder as I did when I was a little girl.
Finally, I was finished. I stepped outside and the air was hot and still, poised as if it waited for something. I walked into the parking lot and a huge gust of wind as warm as an oven whipped my hair, pulling it from the clips. Then I felt the chill, cold drop hit my face, hard as a slap. I looked into the sky and saw the drops begin to fall.
The wind came up with a vengence. I could smell the ozone wafting up from the pavement, the harbinger of dampness. I stood waiting to see what would happen. Suddenly, the sky opened up and the cold rain pelted down driven by the warm winds. I could feel the hot air and the cold rain penetrating my clothing and I stood still, enjoying the sensation.
As the rain violated the trees, crape myrtle and jacaranda blossoms filled the air. Swirling about in tiny whirlwinds on the ground or blowing high into the air, creating a bright pink and purple shower on their own, driven by the winds they surrounded me as I stood next to my car. Which coincidentally went to the car wash yesterday.
A few people came running from the stores, guarding their heads from the icy drops as if they were acid. I stood alone amongst the few cars until I was completely drenched from the rain, watching the blossoms blow around in fantastical patterns on the asphalt. Finally I got into my car and headed home, ending up in front of the storm. In my yard it began anew.
I do not think I have ever enjoyed rain as I did today.
posted by Dawn at 5:56 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home