Maine summer

Is it hot where you are? Climate change, global warming, ice caps melting, 110 degrees in Europe.

Here in Maine we had summer. Two days in a row. I took the flannel sheets off my bed and stuck the air conditioner in the window. Didn't use it though, wanted to save on electricity; used a fan instead.

Today it was cold and rainy again. I put all the winter blankets back on my bed and still felt chilled. Missed those flannel sheets.

Out in the garden the tomatoes aren't too happy, but the greens are fine. The raspberries are flowering and making hard little green berries. Something ate half the green bean plants, but the survivors are doing fine. The basil was too delicate, nothing there. Peonies are bursting with fragrant petals and buttercups abound. Peace in the garden.

We are supposed to have more summer days this week. Sunny and 70. Maybe 80.

War v Winter

An immigrant from Burundi, when asked how he tolerated a Maine winter, shrugged his shoulders and said, "War."

As in, anything, even a Maine winter, is better than.

100 presents

I collect little gifts for him. Lego sets, stuffed animals, stickers. I wrap them up and leave them in the closet or in his toy bag in my car. They must be wrapped, he told me once, otherwise they don't count as presents. Sometimes if I know I'm going to see him, I grab a present from the closet.

Sometimes there is one present, often none. For some silly unknown reason, when I saw him this week there were three. He happily opened them all: some stickers, a stuffed dinosaur, and a Lego set.

Only 3? he asked.
How many should there be? I inquired.

100! he said. 100 presents!

Spring

The time between snow shovels and air conditioners. When the grass grows tall every week, birds are busy, and the lilacs bloom. Also tulips, daffodils, and peonies. Exchange winter jackets for shorts, check the elastic on your swimsuit. Dream of lazy beach days with a good book, sun, sand, and shells.