Today I have been thinking about living in Sacramento. It seems like our weather is among the best in the country. Our toughest time is the 100 degree days of summer. But of course I am always cold so any day over 105 degrees will find me in the backyard baking. It's like having a personal sauna.
This led me down the path to weather and it's impact on all of us. Our childhood is probably the time when we spend most of our times outdoors. We play outside and walk everywhere.
My military family moved often and I have memory bubbles (vignettes of particular moments in time which impact me).
I can remember living in Clovis, New Mexico. At one point in time we we drove to the Air Force base to go swimming, the highway was shut down for a bit of time. It was due to high winds and tumbleweeds. Yes, tumbleweeds the size of our Corvair. I remember that everything was dusty. We played in a land of horny toads, scorpions, and fire ants, We learned if a horny toad felt threatened, he would leak blood from his eyes as a protection.
We lived in Santa Maria, California for two years. Most days between dark and sunrise it would rain and the days were always perfect! We had peach trees in our backyard and when we took a break we would lay under the tree and eat fresh peaches. Nothing better and the peaches were ripe. Our produce markets seem to think today peaches need to be like apples. Yuk!
I remember Great Falls, Montana where we learned about blizzards, below zero temperatures, and chinooks. When the blizzard hit, everyone stayed inside and we were so excited when a 'snow' day was announced. We stayed home on those days. We loved snow days and our parentgs did not! I remember walking to school when the temperature was 40 below zero. We wore Air Force parkas that my dad bought at the PX on base. You could only see our eyes and noses from the outside. It was the only time high school girls at our Catholic school could wear pants. Then out of nowhere a chinook would blow in. The temperature would climb to the 30's and we would run outside in t-shirts. The interesting part of really cold temperatures is our blood flows in collaboration with the weather. So we were able to run out and get the groceries from the car in a t-shirt when it was ten degree. It was only down to the car and back. We also had to run a power cord to the car with a mechanic's light on a cord. This kepe the engine block from freezing. Those were also the days when we let the car run for ten minutes to warm up the engine.
I remember Biloxi, Mississippi where the humidity was so high. The beach was just down the road and we loved the Gulf. We could wade out a good mile and the water was never more than three or four feet.
One of my memory bubbles was a summer day in Great Falls. We had just finished a spirited game of baseball and were lying on the grass at the local school playground. It was a magical moment when the outside temperature matched our inside temperature. It felt like we were sitting in a warm bath which was holding us. Our favorite blanket was around us and we were snug. Magic it was and in that moment it seemed like time lasted forever.
Not I find I can remember those early days so much better than a year ago. I can't remember what I had to eat yesterday yet can remember a restaurant from tweny years ago. Time has gone all kittywhampus. However if I get confused, I know for me I can just remember the weather. How's your weather my friend?
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