Buckle up DC because the heat wave is upon us. We are being told to make sure we have water with us all the time. If you are old or have health issues, stay inside. I took that advice this afternoon and took a nap. Better safe than sorry even though I don’t think I fall into those categories.

When we were kids, we never carried water bottles around. We ran around for hours and then if we were thirsty, drank out of someone’s hose. Canteens, the early version of water bottles, were for camping. Was it not as hot back then? Or were we a hearty bunch?

I was in Tucson one time and everyone said that while it was hot, it was “dry heat” so it was much more bearable. That is a lie. It was hot. Very hot. I took a trip to the Desert Museum there and our guide was a woman that happened to be from Virginia and she told us it took her two years to get used to the heat. Two years.

On the way to the museum, I stopped by San Xavier Mission, a Catholic church that was built in the 1700’s and is still an active as a parish for the Native Americans in the area. At 8am, it was so hot in there, I was sweating up a storm. I stopped specifically to light a candle for my grandmother. When we were kids, she’d take us to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to light candles and so now, if given the chance, I’ll light one for her. While I was there,  a woman who worked there said they had Mass that afternoon at 5 if I wanted to come back. Lordy, I would have keeled over if I’d gone back.

DC hot is humid and sticky. It makes you appreciate Willis Carrier, who is credited with inventing modern day air conditioning. Yea Willis, I should like a candle for you too next time I have the chance. Hard to imagine life with air conditioning. I remember an apartment I lived in without it. I would come home and the cat would be wrapped around the cool base of the toilet bowl. I finally got a window unit. One of the greatest days of my life. The cat’s too.

Today from my IPod I’ve picked “Heatwave” which I first remember hearing (although it was around long before it) while watching “The Flamingo Kid”, a movie that featured Matt Dillon. Who wouldn’t get a heat wave watching him?