Most of the nation is in the fifth day of an early summer heat wave. Daily temperatures where I live are in the mid-90s, about 15 degrees above normal for late June, and humidity readings are high, making life uncomfortable for most. It's clear that many people simply don't know how to cope with these conditions.
Media news reports include advice and tips for staying safe and alive. These include staying indoors, drinking lots of water, avoiding alcohol, and strenuous work, or prolonged periods outdoors. I can usually follow the advice. My circumstances permit me to mostly stay indoors and to dress appropriately for the weather when I must be outdoors.
But I'm also in my mid-60s and have lived in the Midwest all my life. I've experienced extreme temperatures at both ends of the thermometer and learned valuable lessons at a young age.
I always think of my childhood during these periods of high heat and humidity, back during the 1960s and '70s, before my parents could afford to install central air conditioning in their home. It was hot inside the house, particularly on the second floor, where most of my siblings and I shared bedrooms. We relied on floor and window fans to move air around the rooms and provide some relief.
Mostly we learned to adapt and endure the uncomfortable heat. It was just the way it was, and most everyone else in the area lived as we did. As a child and later as a young adult I could easily dress for the weather. During the late '70s and in the years that followed, society relaxed its standards regarding personal attire in public, and before long nearly everyone dressed as though they were in their teen years and ready to spend the day in front of the TV. Visit a grocery store today, and you'll see exactly what I mean.
Yet I recall thinking even back during my teen years about those who had come before, those in the 1950s and earlier, who endured challenging summer weather and were expected to dress for set social standards that called for dresses for females, and attire for males of nearly ages that we today would call business formal - dress pants, shirt, a tie and most likely a suit coat to complete the look.
In addition, men were expected to wear a hat in public. My dad preferred a fedora. He wore one during the work week all the way through the mid-1970s. He had a Homburg hat for formal occasions.
It amazes me even to this day when I think that he and nearly every other male dressed to this standard in hot weather simply because the manners of the day and good social comportment expected it. What's more is that they did so without the media telling them to stay hydrated and indoors. They drank when they were thirsty, and they sat down to cool off when they felt it was necessary.
I'm all for dressing for weather conditions, particularly when temperatures reach 90-degrees, but I also miss the days when individuals put an effort toward appearance and style when stepping out in public.
I also miss the days when newscasters simply reported the news and didn't act like nannies to us all. I might be wrong, but I think most people will figure out how to survive a heat wave on their own, one way or another.
And that's the way I see it.
- Thank you for reading. Your comment and questions are always welcome.
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