Simply too hot to write
To the editor:
Summer vacation time has come. The grades have been turned in and everyone is heading for cooler places. It is hot and humid. If you can get away, you go. Otherwise, you hunt out air conditioned malls and shade.
Fans are popular and for just a moment as you walk down the sidewalk you can imagine how it was like before we had such capabilities. Shade trees are valuable and major efforts are made to shade the sidewalks and lower levels of buildings with some form of plant life. Better for the plants to sweat than for us. Trees do not use fans. They do not have hands.
Within the city itself the highway overpasses are filled with flower boxes. Often it is hard to see the highway for the greenery. One highway near where I live is so filled with greenery that the asphalt is more of an accent than a predominant feature. The plants that are in the boxes grow quickly. Lots and lots of public works employees tend the plants and by now they are putting out nice magenta and purple flowers. It is almost like a Christmas tree on its side.
In the early morning, just as the sun is coming up, everything is shrouded in a foggy mist. Its quiet and peaceful. Even the birds are quiet. As the sun gradually rises up over the mountainside the water begins to evaporate and things begin to dry out.
It is summertime and time for a break. I just saw the mosquitoes dragging their suitcases on the way to a better place. I will have to follow them soon, fly swatter in hand. Will be taking a break now from writing. Back in a few weeks.
Orpheus Allison
Guang Zhou, China
orpheusallison@mac.com
