July Already?

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is July 1st. Wow. The months seem to fly by like minutes... I am looking forward to a long weekend - the office has opted to close on Friday for the July 4th holiday. I have plans to work on my office organization project a bit, so I get that much closer to my goal of being clutter free by labor day. That's not to say, I won't take advantage of my "free" day to get in a little pool time on Friday morning and enjoy a little leisurely reading during the heat of the afternoon. Living in Arizona, you quickly learn why countries with hot climates have adopted the mid-day siesta! I've adapted to rising early to exercise and run errands, then waiting until after the sun sets before attempting any outdoor activities at night. It's the only way to get through the summer months here.

There are benefits to living in a City where it gets so hot you could fry and egg on the sidewalk.

• Traffic is lighter, because the "snowbirds" (winter-only dwellers) are long gone, schools are out on summer break and many locals travel further north to escape the summer heat in the Valley.
• You quickly learn to respect Mother Nature. The Desert is an amazingly beautiful but brutal place in summer, and you either adapt to the environment or die trying. I mourned the loss of several plants lost to the ravages of Arizona summers past. But, I'm proud to report I've managed to keep a lovely hibiscus, fragrant Arabian jasmine, and a Mexican Lime tree that is finally producing normal sized fruit alive and thriving for 3 years (and counting)... with the help of my handy neighbor, Carrie, who volunteers her time to give my plants a better chance at survival than they'd get if left to my rather haphazard care. I've added a few cactus plants to the patio mix, since it's easier to grow plants that have already learned to survive here and can handle a few neglected waterings (hey, no one's perfect)...
• You have a built-in excuse to nap during the day.
• You suffer through 2 hot months a year to enjoy 10 months of nearly perfect weather with temperatures that allow you to be outdoors even in the midst of winter. (Nothing like enjoying dinner on the patio under the stars in January... )

Living through a desert summer certainly makes you appreciate life. Sure, I'll admit, my first summer I questioned my sanity. Then, I found, if you just give into it - realize you cannot conquer it - learn to accept it and work through it - it's not so bad after all.

Enjoy your summer!!! I know I will.