Hot One {Writer’s Workshop}

My father-in-law turned down beer yesterday because of the heat. Now that’s hot! Temperatures are soaring here in the Chicago area. We reached 102 degrees yesterday, with more 100 degree temperatures predictions for today and tomorrow.

We kicked the day off as we do every year, sitting on the curb catching candy during the 4th of July Parade. It was already sweltering at 9am. The best float was the big trailer with the pool on it, and the kids riding it had a ball splashing everyone sitting on the parade route. It was hot; so hot that Lily and Emmy decided we would skip the festival following the parade and go home to our air-conditioned house.

Ed’s family came over for lunch. We sat in chairs under our big ol’ willow tree, and just sat.  Here’s an example of our conversations under the willow tree:

Ed: Man, is it hot today.

Nodding of heads.

Emmy: (lying on my lap, which is the last place I want her to be) I’M HOT!

Nodding of heads.

Me: You know, without this breeze, it would be even hotter.

Breeze suddenly disappears.

Teenagers decide to play a game of bags. It’s hot.

Emmy couldn’t stand the heat and had a hissy fit because the older people insisted on staying outside (it was the 4th of July, after all)  until my brother-in-law suggested we turn on the sprinkler. Then, she happily got wet. The kids were not the only ones who used the sprinkler yesterday!

It is so hot that instead of taking my usual plethora of photos on the 4th, I only manage to take one picture:

The thermometer outside our front door

Without being able to come into the house to cool off, we would not have enjoyed the day as much. Despite the heat, it was fun to sit around, eat hot dogs and brats, and drink pink lemonade. (Well, that’s what the kids had, anyway.)

How was your 4th of July?

Mama's Losin' It

 
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