The Heat is On

It’s hot; I mean really hot, even for a Sacramento July. I’m not one to complain about the weather much, and I wouldn’t necessarily call this that (although you may), but after nine consecutive days ranging from 100 to 113 degrees in my little corner of the Sacramento metroplex, I’ve just about reached my limit. Ok… that’s not true. I’ll endure the heat because I have to – it’s just a figure of speech; I have no limit. And just to make these dog-days of summer that much more memorable… in my truck - no AC!

It’s not broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed or recharged – it’s not there. Never was. I’m not even sure if it was an option for a 1983 Toyota SR5. It doesn’t much matter, if it was, mine didn’t get it. So why am I griping? Well, as I said, I’m not really. All those things that may be going through your mind have crossed mine as well. Sacramento summers are hot – every year. No surprises there. My truck has no AC and I know that one won’t magically appear. And I know that when it tops 110, it makes little difference whether the windows are up or down. I am fully aware of these realities.

I’m down with the heat, really. I’m good with lots of wind and rain, extreme cold and as much snow as will fall too. However, even with my appreciation for the vast variety of weather Mother Nature throws at us, I think it’s when that variety comes to a grinding halt; when she provides over two weeks of nearly identical weather that I become somewhat disgruntled. Careful! I said disgruntled, I’m not complaining. Not even when our low was a record high!

Eighty-four degrees, the highest low ever recorded was ours to enjoy yesterday morning. On my way to work in Colfax this morning, the thermometer in my truck measured the outside temperature at about 91 degrees – that was at 8:45 this morning! Right now, at 7:16 p.m., it’s 104 degrees. Did I mention that it’s hot! One hundred nine (a record high) on Monday, July 17 – then 104 – 100 – 106 – 106 - 111 on Saturday (another record) - 113 on Sunday (record), and today, 108. But I’m not complaining.

And I know that this heat wave is affecting far more than just us. Indeed, it has hit places that really do not typically get extended heat waves and they are certainly suffering. Many have no AC because of power outages or because, like my Toyota, they never did; many have health issues that are exacerbated by the heat; many have died. We that have not-so silently had to suffer this unusual but certainly not unexpected heat should stop and realize that we are indeed fortunate – and no one here can claim that they have been blind-sided. This is hot, but we knew it was coming sooner or later.