Thursday, August 8, 2013

Hot August Nights

by Diane Burton



When I first heard about the topic for this month, a Neil Diamond song immediately popped into mind—“Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” that begins “Hot August Night…” Love that song. Back in the day when it came on the car radio, I’d sing at the top of my lungs—windows closed, of course. When I got my first MP3 player, it was one of the first songs I uploaded. The music starts out slow and builds—just like the old-fashioned tent revivals the lyrics are about.

Growing up, we didn’t have central air conditioning. It was years before we got a window unit that didn’t come close to cooling down the house. Even Hubs and my first home didn’t have central AC. August in Michigan can be beastly hot. Not as hot as other places in the country, but plenty hot. Like Neil Diamond says in the song “you could hear yourself sweat.” Oh, yeah. That hot.

One of the best things about August comes in three nights—the Perseid Meteor Showers. Weather-permitting, we should have quite a show in the sky the nights of August 11-12 and August 12-13. Although these are the peak nights, with 50-100 streaks an hour, start watching tonight. The showers—bits of meteors hitting our atmosphere—increase each night. The showers begin around midnight, but the best viewing is before dawn. For the next few nights, if we have clear skies, you’ll find me lying on my deck, holding Hubs’ hand (if he can stay awake), watching Mother Nature’s fireworks.
 
Photo Credit: David Kingham/DavidKinghamPhotography; taken from Snowy Range in Wyoming August 12, 2012.



Diane Burton blogs here on the 8th and 30th of each month and on her own blog http://dianeburton.blogspot.com on Mondays.

7 comments:

Margo Hoornstra said...

You are so right about the need for central air, and the song. Love that too! Did not know about the light show. We'll have to check it out!

Diane Burton said...

Hi, Margo. Let's hope the skies are clear.

Jannine Gallant said...

Laying on the deck like that sounds like a scene from a book. Maybe you can write it into one! Enjoy the show.

Melissa Keir said...

That's one of hubby's favorite songs. He has it on his MP3 player. There's something exciting about the showers. Like anything is possible.

Patricia Kiyono said...

I remember those hot August nights, back before central air conditioning was a must-have. Hard to believe how spoiled we've become. The song doesn't ring a bell - I'll have to look it up. And I've never seen the meteor showers. Sounds like something I'll have to check out some night when I can't think of what to write next!

Diane Burton said...

Jannine, you gave me an idea. Thanks.

Diane Burton said...

We are spoiled. A friend who lives in Phoenix (a dry heat, LOL) just spent a week in Belize without AC. She couldn't wait to get home.