August 1 - August 5 Un/Fruitful Humidity

2010-I am longingly anticipating a great rain as I write this, for this summer has been very dry.  The sky is darkish grey and the air is warm and wringing wet but, so far, nothing. (I am leaving the chaise cushion out hoping that will help things along.)  Last week I read Carson MacCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and yesterday took out her complete novels.  I am now in the middle of Reflections in a Golden Eye, a very different book but with the same sensibility.  Summer, for me, is the time to read these southern writers.  Experiencing the same humid languid heat as the characters makes it easy to enter those inverted but passionate emotional states, (no stretch for me anyway.)  She is so similar to Tennessee Williams-what was in the air then? This penetrating, oppressive humidity creates an emotional urgency that, too hot to act upon, cooks the nerves.  But something in the soup seems the very source of life, of biology.  Desire, in this case, for a cooling rain.
2011-Summer is passing, the fireflies were magnificent this year but are nearly gone. The summer rush of family visits did not allow time for writing-that, and with my car in the shop I had to take rides when I could get them and not keep my own schedule. This feels so far like a strange summer, I.e. not like summer at all. With the visiting, summer watering and gardening and the breakdown in infrastructure-car, septic/plumbing, lawnmower, I have not had time to feel. The heat and humidity, which I’ve always loved, feels like a burden; the shortening days barely register. I actually find myself looking forward to the quiet empty days of winter and their peaceful inwardness.  What a turnaround!  One more trip-to DC and Boston with F, out to Nantucket and then home-about ten days- and then hopefully a chance to savor the end of summer. I am looking forward to a last late summer trip to the shore with J and E.  Somehow I could barely take it in last month.  I hope it works out.

2013-The hummingbird feeder needs to be refilled every day. We are having hot sunny days and cool nights. The rain amounts are just right and the garden is producing prolifically. If there is any activity more satisfying than visiting the garden and making dinner from what one find’s there, I have not discovered it. (Except for making art.)