Backstory
Many modern conveniences are taken for granted. But there are those of us who grew up without them, or before they were invented.
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Air Conditioning – #433
Say its summertime. You have the choice of being outside in the sun, hot and heavy, or inside in the cool comfort of an air-conditioned domicile. Which one do you choose?
I remember a time not long ago when that choice did not exist. It would be as hot in the house as it was outside. My grandmother had her summer routine down pat. When to open the door and windows, when to pull the shades and drapes, when to turn on the big fan that did little more than moving around the hot air. When to hurry and get the days work done while the heat was still bearable, when to sit as still as possible with a big cloth for wiping the sweat.
City kids remember how they’d open the fire hydrant, and everyone would get wet to cool down. In recent power outages we’ve been reminded of how that felt. Young people may never before have had to go days in intense heat with no cooling.
How did you and your family handle it? Did you cry and whine, cursing the power company to hurry up and get us back to normal? Did you give prayers of thanks for all the days when we do not have to go without the cooling comfort of our conditioned air? Did you just ride around in your air-conditioned vehicle until it was all over?
Air conditioning in hot weather, yet another thing for which to give thanks here in America.
P.S.
Remember going to the movies often, because the theater was the only place in town that had air conditioning?
[Show #433]
Ohhh, yes indeed, I remember the many ways we kids came up with to stay cool back in the 50s — we squirted each other with hoses, we enjoyed something I think we called a Slip ‘N Slide — essentially a long strip of plastic about three feet wide that, when wet, was very slippery. We’d run and fling ourselves onto it, squealing and sliding as far as we could. Growing up on a farm, we were also fortunate to have “the lake” (a large farm pond) where we spent many happy hours with family and friends. Thanks for the trip down memory lane — and the great reminder not to take these modern conveniences for granted!
Glad to have taken you on that memory lane trip, Elizabeth.
Speaking of hot summer days; since late may temperature has been between 118 and 137. And we are still expecting many more hot days. But after about 12 years you get used to it.
Can’t even imagine existing in that kind of temperature. When I see your photo, you always look so cool and calm!
I am about to be 76 years young. Truthfully I do not remember any inconvenience whatsoever from the heat in summer without air conditioning. It was what it was and we dealt with it. I don’t wish to go back but it really was the best of times in the worst of times aka summer heat and humidity. I lived in Arizona for 26 years. People say but its a dry heat. 115 is hot. Period. But i learned that it is better to acclimate rather that resist. I have white Chevy delivery vans for my business and in 15 years never once turned on the air conditioning. Just rode with the windows down and actually worse sweat shits to the movies because it was too darned cold.
that would be sweat shirts!! LOL
Really???
Well, there are folks who love it. My good friend would much prefer it to the cold of winters. But I can remember being virtually overcome with the heat, sitting in church. Not favorite memories.
I sure do remember those days as a youngster. Especially when they opened the fire hydrants….what fun. But we didn’t even have an air conditioned car to escape to. Just those big black metal fans in the house, one of them pointed right at my bed.
My dad objected to AC in the car, for the longest time. He sure changed his mind, once he got it though.