Growing up in Indiana,  I was no stranger to the four seasons. Winters were cold and full of snow, summers were hot and humid, spring and fall brought some fleeting moments of temperate weather.

Thinking back to my summer vacations between school years, nothing strikes me as out of the ordinary. Sure it was hot, but it never seemed to bother me. It could be because I had an air-conditioned home to rest in, or that the opportunity to play in a cool lake all day was a regular occurrence, or possibly not. It could have simply been that heat did not bother me.

As an adult, that has changed.  I get uncomfortable above 80, and also experience the bonus of  heat edema which only adds to my personal discomfort. Here in Buffalo it’s been a very balmy 85+ the past few days, and for the most part I’ve been a miserable mess.  Unfortunately, most houses in Buffalo predate the invention of central air, coming home to relax is difficult to do when it’s 90 degrees.  A single window air-conditioner helps, though after the first Buffalo summer I’ve learned to put it where it counts; in the bedroom where I can be assured of at least a restful sleep.  I hate to say it, but days like these make me wish for winter, where if I’m too cold, I can always put on another layer.

Thankfully, the current heat wave will break soon.