The front page of The Cape Cod Times said the heat is heading our way. Generally the ocean keeps us cooler than off cape, but by Thursday we’ll be in the high 80’s closing in on 90. I expect to hibernate inside with the air conditioner on. I have to go to Falmouth this afternoon so I’ll stop and pick up a few books on the way. I can’t imagine anything worse than hibernating with nothing to read.

We had thunder and lightning last night during the rain storm. Neither was all that dramatic, always a disappointment to me. I love loud storms with torrential downpours.

When I was a kid, we used to love to stay outside during a summer rainstorm, the plain old rainstorms without any dramatics. I remember the rain was always softer in summer and seemed to invite us outside. We’d splash each other from the puddles and run along the sidewalk gutters filled with water. My hair and clothes would get soaked, but I never minded.

Running through the sprinkler was the next best thing to a rainstorm. We’d jump over it with long strides and arms spread as if we were competing in an Olympic event. The bravest among us would stand beside the sprinkler and get pelted by the cold water as it circled. Arms would be held close, crossed over our chests, as if to ward off the cold. We’d take breaks and lie on towels spread on the grass in the sun until we were warmed then it was back to the sprinkler. Our dog, Duke, loved to stop the sprinkler with his paw to drink the cold water. We’d watch him hold a sprinkler arm, slurp his fill and think him the smartest of dogs.

The sprinklers which go round and round have disappeared. Many of us have irrigation systems, and the only sprinklers I see are long and have one bar which sends the water back and forth. That wouldn’t have been any fun.