It's not hot enough. I like my summers steamy, with temperatures hot enough to toast my skin, work my heart until it is pounding like drums heard deep within African jungles, my body glistening with cleansing coats of sweat that shed like an ice robe when I leap into a pool.
The days are long enough. Sunset at 8:45 p.m. is something I try to take advantage of. There is a holy place down the street from where I stay. It's an outdoor basketball court set next to some college dorms with the entire western side completely open to the sun. I'll go there directly after work, shoot around, work on my dribbling. I'll bring an old water bottle full of ice with me and drink it as it melts. The hotter it is, the more I run and play in the great big light, the stronger I feel. It is a very peaceful place as few of the college youth seem interested in outdoor basketball. They are far more drawn to the sand volleyball courts to the south. I am able to clear my head while getting a tan and running around. But it would have a much greater impact if we got a couple more fat 95 degree Sundays. The July 5th Sunday was picture perfect. However, the weather on the 4th was cool and cloudy. More days have been kind of disappointing weather-wise recently. The forecast says 'how about 90,' but the air only gets to 75. Outrageous. And still, I loved the Fourth of July. I want another really long holiday of patriotism and drinking mixed with fireworks and tomato and sweet corn soup. I want to be a part of toasts in a big group, and stumble around and laugh and munch and mack mad game, walking around like I got pocket Aces.