Yesterday was hellishly warm for May, maybe even for August. The heat had me reconsidering my life. Was I virtuous enough to avoid hell? Could I escape eternal damnation? I certainly hope I am.

Last night it rained for only a short while, but it set the stage for today’s weather. It is 61° with light showers. Earlier, my usual quiet morning was jolted by the sound of a tree company parked next door felling some pine trees and chipping the downed branches and trees from that big storm a while back. The tree which had landed on my back fence is gone. I now have to brace the fence as it is leaning. I tried before, but the fence is heavy by itself let alone with a leaning pine tree. That chore is for another day.

My dance card has only chores on it including a dump run tomorrow. Today, I’m going to finish cleaning the dining room and try to start on my room which has boxes and clothes all over, the start of my switching winter for summer clothes. I figure it being the end of May that task needs to be completed.

My father was a lawn specialist in his own way. He used a hand mower his whole life. Every spring he had it sharpened. He cut his lawn in the same pattern most summer Saturdays. I loved the sound of that mower, the click click as he pushed it across the lawn. The grass flew out from the blade. He always raked with his bamboo rake, later his metal rake. Some teeth of that rake were bent but made no difference. I remember the cuffs of my father’s pants had grass in them from the flying blades of his mower.

The only ukulele players I remember are Arthur Godfrey, Big Brother Bob Emery and Tiny Tim. Bob Emery was the host of Big Brother, a show on TV in the 50’s when I was a kid. His theme song was The Grass Is Always Greener in the Other Fellow’s Yard which he accompanied with his uke. I sang along but didn’t really understand what the song was about. Toward the start of the show, we drank a milk toast to a picture of President Eisenhower while Hail to the Chief played in the background. I remember I saw him in person one July 4th during the yearly festivities in Wakefield, the town next to mine. He was in the middle of the bandstand surrounded by kids. I was one. He was wearing his usual sports coat and tie. I remember the coat always looked checkered on TV. I was right behind him. I remember a bug was on his neck.

We are still enjoying the loveliest weather. The sun is just brilliant. Everything seems to gleam. The blue sky is deep and cloudless. A breeze moves through the branches. It is already 70°. Tomorrow will be similar but the rest of the week will fall back to the 60’s. I guess Mother Nature doesn’t want to spoil us.

My house is out to get me, not to the Amityville Horror degree but still noticeable. The front door you know about. It ate my finger last week and sent me crashing to the ground. This morning the shower curtain fell again. I left it on the floor and took my shower anyway, cleanliness being next to Godliness. I’m going to haul my step ladder upstairs and try again. When I walk through the house, I am ever vigilant. Where are the ants, the gnats and the mice? They are either hiding or my attempts to eradicate them are working. Speaking of mice, I saw what I thought was part of a branch on the floor, one of Nala’s trophies. Nope, it was the carcass of a petrified mouse, probably another Nala trophy. I tossed it away from the house.

When I was a kid, I was never a girly girl. I preferred pants and blouses to dresses. I wore sneakers. In the summer, I’d wear clam diggers or shorts. In the winter it was jeans. I reluctantly had to wear a uniform to school and a skirt or dress to church. We had to wear dresses or skirts to drill competitions. It was usually hot so we were often uncomfortable. Ironically, I was posted to Peace Corps Ghana where women, at least back then, did not wear pants. Given the heat, though, dresses were actually cool so I adapted.

My mother made supper every night. It was usually meat, potatoes, usually mashed, and a vegetable. The veggies, except for summer corn, were canned. The food wasn’t elaborate, but it was always tasty. She only served vegetables we’d eat making for a peaceful mealtime. We’d grab cookies for dessert. Oreos were a favorite. We’d usually eat those in front of the TV after dinner. Because I live alone and don’t want to make the effort, I seldom make supper. My friend Elaine has been feeding me. She doesn’t have leftovers. She has supper for me. I’ve enjoyed her cooking and like having elaborate dishes instead of a sandwich or buttered crackers. The other night was an exception. I had a pork tenderloin which had lived in my freezer for a longtime. I had bought 3 pounds of potatoes for 48¢ from the bargain bin. Even though they still had a couple of weeks of life, this seemed the perfect time. I had peas and corn in the freezer so I used them. I cleared out my oven which I use as a cabinet and baked the meat and potatoes. Supper was delicious. I even got to enjoy it again last night, will again tonight and probably tomorrow night.

I have a concert this afternoon and practice tonight. I do need cream and cat food so a grocery stop is also on my dance card. Tomorrow too will be uke busy, but for the rest of the week I have only a dump run. I’m looking forward to doing pretty much nothing.