STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

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Special Treat ??“ From Me!

Aug 12, 2005? 

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Summer Scorcher

Carol Roach

Montreal is experiencing record breaking heat this summer. In fact the same holds true for all of?  Eastern Canada.?  Those of you who experience this kind of weather all time may think ??“ so what, no biggie there.?  But it is a biggie for a country which has four distinct climates; three of which can be considered cold.?  Our bodies have to adjust rather quickly to the rise and fall in temperature.?  As I grow older, it is getting more and more difficult for me to do that.?  We have already experienced as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. I don??™t care what anyone says - that is too hot for me.? 

I can??™t stand it.?  I have been cooped up in the house with the doors and windows and blinds closed to keep out the sun and the humidity.?  The weatherman was wrong; it doesn??™t keep the house cooler.?  It is still a Turkish oven in here.?  I have three fans going in the living room where I have my computer set up.?  All they are doing is blowing hot air.

I am hot, cranky, and not fit company for animal or human.?  It is times like this that I have to be very careful about the responses to emails I send out.?  I know I can be short with people without provocation; my only excuse is that I am hot.

My mind is stifled; baked to a crisp so to speak.?  My creative juices are spent.?  Hence the only thing I can concentrate on is this unbearable heat.?  Earlier I was dizzy and had to lie down.?  I know one can suffer heat stroke while out in extreme weather but does the same hold true when inside? Maybe it is just my diabetes flaring up.?  Who knows, I cannot think straight anymore.

I look at my hands and I see swollen fingers, puffy from the heat. Or is it from diabetes or both at the same time? I cannot slide my rings off my fingers.?  I can hardly move them at all. However, I can move them enough to see the flat round red indent they leave on my skin beneath.?  I think of crazy things like having them surgically removed because my fingers have swollen beyond belief.?  But my mind is just getting carried away.?  I know that since I can move them all I need to do is rub some soap around my fingers and they will slide off without too much trouble.? 

And now I am thinking why stop with washing my fingers??  I am going to take a complete shower.?  I am going to let the water run down my body.?  I can already feel how cool and refreshing it will be.?  In my hand I hold the wonderful bar of soap.?  For me there is nothing more appealing at this time.?  I will take the bar, work it into a soapy lather and apply it meticulously over my body.?  I will wash away today??™s grime and when I rinse off I will feel rejuvenated again; even if only for five minutes.

As I think of that precious bar of soap, more precious than gold to me at this moment, I realize its power.?  Not only will it clean the dirt from my skin, but it will wash away my vile mood, my crankiness, and my discomfort.?  It will be the balm to sooth my tormented soul.?  Just thinking about it is making me feel better already.

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Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

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A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill University.?  She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in counselling psychology.?  Carol Roach is a published writer and newsletter editor.?  You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com.?  You can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well.?  Carol??™s second book: Angels Watching Over Me is soon to be released by White Schooner Books ??“ details to follow. ? 

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If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will be glad to accommodate you.?  Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.

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