It’s been a bad summer for heat and humidity in Canada, from British Columbia to Ontario at least, with large areas tinder dry due to lack of rainfall, and as a result, hundreds of out-of-control forest fires, some accidentally or purposely set by people. The ones in northern Ontario bad enough that they threaten several First Nations’ reserves, with their residents forced to evacuate with only a suitcase, and flown as far south as Cornwall, Ontario, on the St. Lawrence River.

Here in Ottawa, we’ve just come out of our fifth heat wave, with the humidex pushing 40 degrees Celsius. The floor model air conditioner Jason bought a couple of years ago being pushed to its limit. We have a window unit sitting in the basement, and more than once J and I have been tempted to bring it upstairs, both of us admitting that it’s a better machine than the floor model.

All of this of course being blamed on Climate Change, which is also affecting other parts of the world. Europe, especially Germany have been hard hit, with torrential rains, and the worse flooding they’ve seen in years, if not decades, resulting in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives. Mixed with the pandemic, and in some places a fourth or even fifth wave due to the Delta variant, only adding to the misery. Despite how well Canada is doing on the vaccination front, some are predicting a fourth wave to hit here in September.

Although serious, I jokingly call humidity my Kryptonite. I can handle one or two days, but by the third, my ability to function normally, severally compromised, including lack of sleep, appetite and creativity. This is the first piece of writing I’ve been able to put together in about a week. A short piece, titled Yellow Rose of Texas, also posted today (with revisions) was actually written last week. It’s been a nice break, but as always, duty calls.

Summer was always a good season for me and Dawn, and her absence this year is having a big impact on me, when added to my dysfunction from the humidity. Although we didn’t see each other last year, sticking to our individual pandemic bubbles, we at least kept in touch by phone. With her passing from Cancer in October, I no longer have that even.

On the bright side, Jason finally got his first inoculation (Moderna) yesterday at the local pharmacy. They advised him to go back for his second shot in three weeks.

Talked to BFF Joe a few days ago, and there’s a good possibility I’ll be going up to his cottage in early August for 3-4 days. I told him about getting my second Covid shot...with no side effects. He and Lyne were surprised, as their second shots hit them hard, with Joe having to sleep a good 24 hours, and Lyne ill with fever. What can I say? Some of us have better genes? Mind you, they were previously infected while on a cruise early last year, when COVID-19 first became a pandemic. Luckily, with both of them in good health, they got away with only minor impact, such as fatigue, loss of smell and taste, no hospitalization.

I’m scheduled to participate in my first Zoom poetry reading on August 21st. My friend in California has asked me and a few other writers to read individually for about 10 minutes (5-6 poems). Looking forward to the experience.

On a related note, the guy currently administering Pathetic.org has been working on a new poetry website, minus all the bugs, inherited when the creator of the site walked away a few years back. This includes the ability to add new members.


© 2021
Photo: Toronto skyline with red Sun due to wildfire smoke from western Canada and northern Ontario. Courtesy of BLOGTO





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07/21/2021

Posted on 07/21/2021
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti