Just so everyone knows, August is not the hottest month of the year in the south. That prize belongs to July and based on my short-term memory (this year’s), I agree! Days are getting shorter and fall is on the way … YAY! But yep, it’s still HOT! What to do? I say embrace the season – here are a few tips.
First of all, friends, we need to acclimate, at least a tad. Turn up those thermostats in your house and in your car and embrace the atmosphere around you. And it’s not just the heat – it’s the humidity, right? Spend some quality time outside, in the shade, on your porch – early in the day and late in the evening is ideal. I have noticed that August mornings have been pleasantly “cool” for this time of the year (80s). Or get out there with those special people that walk or run and embrace the weather any time of the year. They deserve a wave at least.
Now there is not much we can do about humidity other than just think about fall, but other parts of the world deal with the opposite. I once visited Wyoming in August when the morning temps were in the mid 30s with what they called high humidity at 15%. As I drank my first cup of coffee in a rocker on the porch of a conference center, contemplating the fact that it was August 25th and I was not sweating yet, a nice local fellow apologized for the “balmy” weather. I thanked him but offered to send him a bag of humidity so he would know what it was. Besides, if you think about it, people pay big bucks to sit in a sauna, sweating with folks they may not know, when we can do that in the privacy of our porches for free.
Slow down and hydrate is another common mantra for the season. I consider coffee a form of hydration, yet some folks disagree. But so is sweet tea, right? Look, just drink plenty and remember that your brain doesn’t always know what your body needs, so drink up! Water is of course best, and we have plenty of it. You can also plan your day to avoid the so-called heat of the day (mid-day) and get that grass mowed when it is “cool” and right before a well-deserved shower.
And then there is the chance to celebrate the fruits of summer. Nothing beats a slice or two, or three of a sweet watermelon. My wife Mary loves to bite into a vine ripened tomato. We both love fresh okra, right off the plant. Pears and grapes are ripening. Figs just finished – in July no less. Now that is worth a bit of perspiration.
Look, for those of us that grew up in the south, summer is just in our DNA. No sense complaining about it, so find a way to embrace it. I always jokingly explain to visitors to the south that we really only have two seasons of the year – summer and not quite summer, when the humidity drops below 100%. Besides, when our friends from the north are stuck in their homes under multiple feet of snow, we are on our porches, enjoying “not quite summer.” Why do you think the Snowbirds come down here in January in the first place.
So, acclimate, on your porch, with your favorite beverage, and a couple of slices of watermelon. And don’t forget to wave at those special people running by. Or better yet, invite them to join you. You’ll make new friends.