I remember growing up and nobody had air conditioning-for that matter businesses didn't have air conditioning either.  When things got unbearably hot, we would sleep on the porch or roll up the rug and sleep on the hard wood floor.  We got pretty desperate on those hot nights.  I can remember Dad going down to the gas station and buying a 25 lb bag of ice for us kids to pass around until it melted.  Now that was high class air conditioning!

 

There was one neighborhood refuge from the summer heat-the local "air conditioned" movie theater.  For 25cents, you could see a double feature, a cartoon, and a newsreel along with coming attractions.  For 10 cents you got popcorn and a candy bar.  Most of us just stuck to the water fountain for drinks.  And you could stay as long as you wanted, or until you got kick out. 

 

That reminds me, we always would try to get the first row in the balcony (movie theaters had balconies in those days).  The balcony front row was where all the action was or I should say where all the trouble started.  Things dropped on pretty girls below, spit ball shot out through straws, and an occasional pea shooter sending something hard to the front rows.  I remember a kid who was in the seventh grade with me soaking a bag of popcorn and faking vomiting sounds as he poured the popcorn down onto a group of high school girls.  Boy did he clear out fast, but not before the manager collared him.  I don't remember what happened to him, but after laughing my head off, I did feel sorry for the girls.

 

So what was my point?  Oh, I remember.  We have enough heat in Washington without making such a big deal about the temperature here.  Why don't we all just go and cut ourselves a big slice of watermelon, pour a tall glass of iced tea and relax on the front porch.  Fall is coming!  That's what I plan on doing.

 

That's my two cents.  What is yours?

 

The Old Curmudgeon