Hot Day Haiku

OK, so that reads like something one of my kids would have written in third grade. When they forgot to do their homework and scribbled it out as the teacher collected the papers. And that’s even after Ali helped me with it, as we drove home from school.

Still, today marks the beginning of the season for the Annual Daily Air Conditioner Debate, chez Amanda & Steve. When we searched the entire country to figure out the best place to live, in 1985, one of our top criteria (of ten) was climate. Steve didn’t want to be anywhere too hot in the summer, I wanted to be done with long cold winters after three in Pittsburgh and four in upstate New York. Portland won for scoring best overall, but I think the balance in the ambient temperature category is slightly in my favor. So we compromise with a single window air conditioner in our room at the top of the house, and negotiate on when to use it to replace breezes through open windows.

It sits at my right shoulder, waiting to be called into action. But the lilac-scented air and the songs of the birds in the willow tree call to me, too…. even though I know Steve would like the room cool when he gets home. And I do love him so….

Menace. The Daily Air Conditioner Debate is often conducted without the need for a second person participating.