Beach Day #6

Hot, humid Lake Michigan
Was before me
But this time
I was prepared

Walking up to the tent
The Aussie recognized me
"You're finally ready to do it?"
He asks

I smile back and say
"Yeah, it only took me three times
To think about it."
But, today was the day

Even though I could swim
I got a life vest
It hugged my chest
Tightly and securely

"Don't be afraid to fall in,
He said, "You probably will."
"It's fine,"
But I lied

I didn't want to fall in
Even though the water was much
Warmer than other days
I didn't want to - fail

He carried the board
To the lake for me
Offered some advice
Sit on your knees, then get on all fours - and stand

Sounded easy enough
But the lake was a bit choppy

At first I didn't think
I was getting anywhere
Was I going in a circle?
I began to have doubts

Eventually I made my way out
And decided it was time to try
And stand
Okay, you can do this

The width of the board
Was comforting
Plenty of room
I heard in my head, "Place feet here."

I began to stand
Wobbly, but upright
Paddle, damn it - he said it would be easier
When you kept paddling

I did
Wobble wobble
Left, right, left right
Crap, not going too well

For a few minutes
I was paddling
But then I sat back down
Licking my wounds a bit

But the summer heat and sun
Remained with me
I saw the lake shore from
A perspective I had never seen before

It was nice just being out

To Be Cool or Not To Be Cool

By the end of June everyone has their A/C units in the window. Even if they don't get used, people arm themselves for the heat of the summer. For a couple of years I never had one. I would just tough it out with some fans. However, I finally broke down and got one unit after my partner wouldn't tolerate it as I did. Looking back, I don't know how I tolerated it.

I remember thinking the electric bill would be threw the roof, but it wasn't that bad.

This summer (now mid-August) we have two units and some days they have gone all day and almost into the night.

Now, I typically run cool, so in the A/C I have on a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweat pants. The comforter is on the bed from this winter. In the A/C it is so artificially cool. It's kind of weird. I think my comfort temp is 72 or 74, which is usually too warm for my partner's--- 66 or 68. However, back in the rest of the apartment is warm and humid. There's just not a good middle ground.

Sometimes I wonder what it will be like in the future (unless, of course, global warming is the end of us anyways). But in the summer, we all walk around in our individual cooling bubbles that could go on or off like a force field. We'll all be able to be "comfortable" without inconveniencing anyone else. Whoever invents this is going to make mega-bucks.