It was another  early summer day on the Great Plains.  

Hot. Humid.  Cicadias rasping.  Over 100 degrees  mid-morning.  Lifelong habits in coping with summer heat kicked in.   Cool drinks in hand,  watermelon, cucumbers, other no cook food on the menu.  Light clothing.  Little activity.   Then, a distressing thud and long whine near  the house.  The aging heatpump/airconditioner had stopped running and could not be repaired.   It would take days to get a new unit – if we were lucky.

The heat wave continued.

We kept window coverings closed during the day to keep heat at bay.  Nights were still cool so we opened windows wide.  The screens to the big front window were in storage. But we strategically placed fans in front so no one could get in without making a noise.  Except Rocky the Cat. 

Rocky  jumped in the front window with a bird in his mouth.  Two nights in a row.

 The first time, Justin saw him in the basement with his paws on the bird.  Thinking the bird was dead, Justin lifted Rocky’s paw.  Bird flew to the top of the bookcase, making a great deal of noise.  Rocky, upset at having his dinner take flight, was also highly displeased.  Justin grabbed and bird dodged, until  bird found his way up the stairs and back out the window. 

The scenario repeated a couple nights later, only Rocky  had a unprotesting corpse under his paw.

Worn down from a week of extreme heat and no sleep, I called motels next morning.  

The only place available was Tiny Room Motel.  Three people, two suitcases and a wheelchair plus other medical equipment , required acrobatics to navigate.  One of us was not acrobatic and the only place for him was the bed.  Or the wheelchair.  No room for other chairs. 

 One of us could perch on the wide windowsill.  It was too high for anyone but a tall, bearded dude.  So I got to sit on the second bed. 

The room was cool and the window had a beautiful view of quiet trees. 

A week later, the new cooling unit arrived and was installed in it’s place next the house. 

Wheels was used to hotels so staying in one did not upset him. And we were with him at all times, which kept him content.   We always kept essentials packed and ready to travel so we had everything we needed without fussing.  We were cool and relatively comfortable. It was also a “vacation” from the usual concerns and chores. 

Justin drove across town everyday to shower, feed Rocky, check on the house,  and bring in breakfast, snacks and entertainment. He also picked up meals from nearby fast food places.  The cost of nightly accommodations continued to accrue.  Tiny Room Motel was cramped but the low cost and cool air over more than a week was worth it. The cost of the heat pump replacement was high with no time for price shopping.

It was a very expensive summer.

There weren’t viable alternatives. 

 On the other hand, it could have been much worse! 

And, given the situation, it was well worth it!

What is YOUR plan for hot weather?

 Now is the time to prepare. 

Forecasters are predicting a long hot summer! 

More to come in this series. . . .

—-  written by Charlene Vance —–