Excess summer heat wipes me out. Unlike the rest of the year, when the weather is hot I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. The two mile walk before breakfast is excused away as I give Tasha her morning brushing. I climb the stairs to spend walking time writing instead.

But by the time I reach the top step the loft bed looks more inviting than the desk top. I lie down and listen to just one side of a book on tape.

Sometime later I wake up all sticky with sweat wondering what had been read to me.

Downstairs once more, I head for a late breakfast and settle for a cup of yogurt. It is too hot to think of more.

Morning flute practice may or may not happen --- but if it does -- it will not be enthusiastic. I am too hot to sit up straight, to have breath control, to make beautiful music. Life is more pleasant on the bed in the porch where a breeze will cool me -if there is a breeze.

Sometime around midday I stir enough to realize my book has fallen onto the floor or I have rolled on to it and creased a page or two. Now what do I do? It is a library book!

Getting up to care for the book, I realize the humidity and temperature are steadily rising and I am too hot to do more than drink iced tea in a tub filled with cold water. I read in the tub and discover the added humidity is good for the crumpled pages of my book.

Much of the afternoon will slip by with me in that tub, my book and my tea.

When at last I get back on my feet it is much too hot and sticky to dress. I slip into my nightie and return to the bed on the porch with lemonade this time. I doze off a time or two before the sun goes down and I realize I am facing another night too hot for sleeping.

Now, what in the world am I going to tell you about how I happen to be spending my time these days?