Today was truly an Iowa summer day, hot and humid. I mean really HOT and really HUMID. The kind of day that is oppressive on the lungs of an asthmatic like myself. This was the kind of day that Mom always called close, meaning that the air is so heavy you can just feel it pressing against your body. Kenzie had two softball games again today so I was able to enjoy this closeness up-close! Even while sitting at these games I knew I could go home to a cool shower and an even cooler, air-conditioned house. Yet even w/o central air as a child, I survived similar sweltering days. I didn't take showers back then, I always took bathes, and in the summer Mom taught me how to add baking soda to my bath water to make it more refreshing. I only took baths on Saturday nights, and on the other nights I'd give myself what Mom called a sponge bath, putting some water in the bathroom sink to wash off my face and arms and a little water in the bath tub to wash my feet.
Saturday night was special w/ the cool, refreshing baking soda bath and my summer jammies. They were of the lightest cotton, and being able to wear short bottoms w/ elastic around the legs and a loose-fitting top w/o a bodice or waist was almost like wearing my birthday suit to bed. Scandalous! After my bath, I'd take my Hershey's chocolate bar (we only got one candy bar a week), lie down on my tummy in front of the TV, and watch The Lawrence Welk Show. I know, I was a wild one in my youth. When it was time for bed, Mom would bring down the quilts and pillows and make a bed for us on the living room floor so we could sleep downstairs in front of the fan where it was cooler. I usually woke up w/ a stuffy nose, but it was worth it b/c it only ever happened a few times during the summer when the conditions were just right.
The nice thing about hot, humid days, aside from helping the corn grown, is that they usually brought on thunder storms w/ lightning brighter than the light of ten thousand camera's flash bulbs and the promise of cooler temperatures in the morning. We had one of those storms tonight so for awhile tomorrow it should be cooler, but in true Iowa fashion, it will probably be hot and humid again tomorrow. I love summer!
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