One Upon Mobile's Bad Weather POST #47

           

I never thought I’d hear myself say, “Yay!  It’s fall!”  Having moved to the Gulf Coast in the month of June of 2008, you’d think the heat would be overwhelming.  But that first year no one could convince me that the green, lush, colorful, garden-like setting would not go away at the stroke of September.  I barely went inside in spite of the heat, the ‘no-see’ems, and the heavy humidity that keeps seasoned southerners living strategically around the heat.

            One night, I was having neighbors over for appetizers and Mojitos.  All day I was envisioning my wonderful little porch ‘party’ with new-found treats like hot seafood dip, fresh goat cheese with basil, and boiled Cajun peanuts.  The group of six arrived and, when I went inside to make the drinks, they ALL followed me in the house.  I made the mistake of asking, “Do you guys want to go out on the porch or sit inside?”   I was certain they’d opt for the porch, after all, that’s what southerners do!

            In unison, the group shouted, ‘IN!!!”  As soon as we settled into the living-room   I noticed smirks on their faces; victorious smirks, I might add!  After a drink or two, the conversation became more relaxed – as if it wasn’t already, I mean, we’re in the south.  Then they shared their discussion on the way to my house.

Speaker #1:  “I’m so glad we got a nice neighbor that’s friendly and enjoys socializing.”

Speaker #2:  “Me too!  But I sure hope Miss Mary Beth doesn’t make us sit out on that porch and sweat to death!”

Speaker #3:  “Oh!  You know she will!   How do we get inside?”

Speaker #1:  “Good luck with that!  You know we’ll never get her in that house!”

I enjoyed their company immensely, though there was a twinge of guilt that the moon was shining bright and the warm – okay, hot – summer breeze would not have our audience that night.  I just couldn’t get it out of my head that - come September - it was not all going disappear.  I never wanted it to go away.  Ever! 

About a year later at a neighborhood barbecue, I overheard a conversation about me, one that was actually intended for me to hear.  It was Miss. Janet, a girl in her late 20’s who showered us with love and gifts our first year in the south, particularly when Mom was dying and she was one of the six at my 'porch' party.   It was a comfortable fall night, mid-70’s and no humidity.    Miss. Janet told how, ‘Last year, Miss Mary Beth was outside all summer long.’  Apparently she and the neighbors placed bets on how long it would take for the heat to win and for me to give up and go inside.  But to their surprise, I held my own for well over a year, taking every opportunity to be outside.   Miss Janet’s story ended with,  "It could be 95 degrees outside and she’d be sitting on her porch!  But you don’t see her ass sitting out there now!”

And Miss. Janet is right.  You don’t see 'my ass' sitting out there now  - well, at least not as much.  But I still prefer the warmer climate and have learned a few tricks along the way, like having ice water with fresh lemon on hand helps avoid heat nausea and will ease the transition from a colder climate.  And in the summer, going to the beach by 8 a.m. and leaving by 10 a.m. means you hit it when the temperature is ‘beach perfect’ and you still have your whole day ahead of you.  And, contrary to popular belief, people who live in hot climates are typically in cooler environments than our northern counterparts simply because we work and have lives here, most of which entail air conditioning.  The bay breezes here keeps the heat bearable and the Live Oaks offer so much shade that I find myself going out of my way to see the sky.

 But my big ‘ah ha’ moment happened on a pontoon boat on the hottest day in the summer with temperatures at 100+.   We were with  friends who moved here from Binghamton, NY, discussing weather when one said,  “This is our bad weather!  This is as bad as it gets (aside from the occasional hurricane that averages a hit to the same area about every 23 years), and look at what we are doing?  We’re in a boat!”  We were enjoying a ‘progressive pool party’ sailing up the bayous to host houses for food and swimming in their pools.  Yup!  That’s our bad weather!

But what I like best is the gift of ‘time’.  As mentioned in other posts, I have always had a sense of time passing – way too fast.  But the milder seasons seem to slow things down and the non-extreme temperatures offer the incentive to get out and experience life to the fullest. Not having to move and manage snow (and everything related) offers a ton more time to take advantage of all that life offers.    In my first year in Mobile, I experienced more than in my thirty up north and  I never cease to be amazed at more new adventures.  Yet, in spite of the never-ending list of cool things to do, there is more time to relax, and even tend to the daily necessities.   I've had more opportunity to reflect back on my life and often ponder how the past has prepared me for the future.   And that is what propels me to look ahead and dream, putting one foot in front of the other, as I leisurely meander through this journey called life.