“It’s hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk.” “Don’t go outside unless necessary.” “Drink water, check on the elderly, check on your neighbors, take care of animals.”
These recent warnings are part of daily news reports here in coastal South Carolina. Last week, temperatures were close to 100 degrees with heat index of 117 and more. Air conditioners have been running non-stop. Neighborhoods have been quiet as more people are staying inside and not taking walks until early morning or late evening.
So, what do the Hendersons do? We decide to take a walk in the evening. Equipped with bottled water, sunscreen applied and wearing light colored clothing, we start walking through the neighborhood.
Our pace is slower than usual. A few shaded areas bring welcome relief. Conversation is mostly about the heat and the lack of people outside. One runner (must be a professional) does pass us and two ladies are walking slowly on the opposite side of the street. Small number of folks outside.
After a long walk, as we approach the street to our home, we look at each other with questioning thoughts. “Who had the bright idea of walking in this heat?” At least it wasn’t as hot as earlier in the day and at least we were prepared and followed healthy guidelines for being outside.
Just as I am thinking about how glad I am we are sticking to our walking plan, Alan looks at me and says, “Wow, honey, you are really sweating. It’s running all down your face and neck.” Way to make a girl feel good. No kidding I was sweating. He was sweating, too, but I didn’t mention how he looked.
My reply was “No, dear, I am not sweating. I am “glistening”. Southern ladies “glisten”. We don’t sweat.”
Laughter was with us all the way home. And, yes, I was truly sweating.
We couldn’t wait to get inside the house, cool down, drink more water and take cold showers.
Even in a hot, sweaty walk, laughter can be found.
Have you found an unusual circumstance to laugh? Share with us.
Blessings and giggles,
Mimi
Sweating or "glistening"…
Ha ha I must remember when our summer arrives, “glistening not sweating”
Today will be another hot day here in South Carolina. I’ll try to “glisten”. haha! Have a great day!
Hot here in Oklahoma and I “glisten” most days this time of year. Thanks for sharing
Seems like lots of areas are hot enough to “glisten”. haha! Stay cool and have a great weekend.
You too
Love your story. I hope one day you will pull all these short stories together to make a book. Everyday life is full of surprises, some good and some not so good. They all give us a chance to take note and learn. Thanks again.
Thank you so much Carol. One of these days I intend to publish these blog posts and more. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
We glisten sometimes up here in the North too! Glistening this week, in fact. God bless!
Haha!!! Yes, I hear it’s hot enough to “glisten” up north. Have a blessed weekend!
Maryam and I have been walking evenings since the 1990s when she was recovering from breast cancer and the depression that it brings. For a long time, we were the only walkers in our stretch of the woods, but now it has become an acceptable evening activity.
It took this week’s heat wave to convince us after 27 years of faithful service to replace our air conditioning system. Like a horse that ran itself to death, our system first ran low on freon; then, the motor on the fan simply died. We kept the technicians busy into the evening on Tuesday replacing the motor. The entire unit will be replaced in the coming week.
The fourth this year was a joy. I spent the morning down at Lake Anne with my daughter’s in-laws and returned for a cookout here in Centreville with my family.
Glistening? I have learned a new word.
Walking can be very relaxing. So sorry about your air conditioning system. There always comes a time when they need to be replaced. Sounds like a great time on the fourth. Have a blessed day!
We’ve had the same temperatures and heat indexes as you’ve experienced, Mimi. We had no spring. Since I work out a lot, inside the home, I don’t tend to “glisten” too much outside. Derek says he’s “schvitzing.” 🙂 Stay cool!
Lots of hot weather all over the place. Stay safe outside. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
You do the same, Mimi. 🙂
Last night, I did a little “glistening” myself when we took a walk in our southern Texas coastal neighborhood. We’re still adapting to the climate change from Michigan to the coast, and there’s been a lot to learn and to explore. The heat and the rising water levels after every rainfall has been interesting. We’ve laughed a lot, as, you’re right, it seems to be the best way to handle all of this. Joy lightens the load. 🙂
Laughter definitely lightens the load, as now our air conditioner has stopped working. I am glistening inside the house. But, I am still smiling. Have a great weekend!
Yes, keep smiling and try not to melt! Hope your weekend is good!
Wow, those are high temperatures indeed! I like that – glistening, not sweating – much more refined. You’re right, we need to find more reasons to laugh and to see the light side of things. Stay cool and hydrated – doing the same here as the UK has unusually high temps (comes out of the blue and shocks us all!) xx
We all need to drink lots of water and stay hydrated in this heat. Right now, we have storms. Hope to see a rainbow. Maybe the temps will go down. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Dear Melissa!
Thank you for sharing this with us. Somehow I always smile when I’m reading your blog posts. I think it’s because of your writing style; it’s so positive and friendly 🙂
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Edna, thank you for your kind encouragement. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
It has been so hot!!! Glad you guys are able to find the humor 🤣
Yes, and yesterday our air conditioner broke down. I think I see another blog post idea. haha! Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
Love your story, Mimi. In Texas we joke about “glistening.” It’s been around 106 before the heat index for many days now, but I do enjoy walking in the evenings when the sun is setting. Delightful. Wishing you a cooler July! xoxo
Oh my!! That is really hot!!! Wow!! Stay cool and enjoy a great weekend! Hugs. 🙂
It’s so neat that you are pointing out how unexpected circumstances can lead to a lot of laughter, because I was just reading an article about humor earlier today and thinking that I need to be less serious and enjoy laughter more often. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
Laughter helps me through a lot of situations. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
I think we are so tired from our long days that almost anything seems funny in the evening. Also, I am always sweating and stinky and it’s just not super sexy. Haha but thankful my husband loves me anyway
I know what you mean about anything being funny in the evening. Some days, we just laugh at our tiredness. Have a great weekend!
LoL, Melissa. This is a great story and love the “glistening” for southern women.
Karen, today is another hot day. We may go to the beach to take our evening walk. Have a nice weekend! 🙂
Living in California, I know all those advisories – and it’s possible to fry a frog on the sidewalk, but I have yet to try an egg. I think it has to get at least 106 before egg frying is possible.
(No, the frog didn’t get fried on purpose – I just saw its poor black corpse after the tragedy.)
I am laughing loudly!! I have never heard about frying a frog on the sidewalk. I learn something new everyday. haha! Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a blessed weekend!
Dear Melissa, we had an all time high of 118 degrees in Ramona, California. I have to take my little dog out to walk and our walks were for the sole purpose of getting her job done so she could earn her cookie. In the short trips that day I truly glistened. LOL, Love your blog.
Wow, 118 degrees! That is way too hot!! Thanks for reading and commenting. Blessings. 🙂
Loved the story! The other day we were walking outside. My sister was pushing both my toddler and her 3-month-old in a double stroller. My Toddler said, “Aunt Mae Joyce did you spill on yourself?” It was sweat all over her cute linen dress 🙂 I love hot southern days!
Thank you for sharing that story. I am laughing!! 🙂 Have a great week!
Melissa, I laughed with you. And good for you for keeping your schedule. I’m one in the AC taking laps around my house!
The AC sounds good. Ours broke down last week. All is fixed now and we are enjoying the cool air. 🙂 Have a great week!
I “glisten” almost every day here in Texas ;). Thank you for this post, it is so uplifting and encouraging!
We have family in Wimberly TX and they tell us about the heat there. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a great week!
Glistening. That is such a great answer and so true! I hope the heat has been turned down as I know it can be tough on the elderly etc, but may you still be glistening!
Lynn, the heat has returned but not as bad as a few weeks ago. We enjoyed a few days of nice temperatures. As the weather forecasters say, we are in the dogs days of summer so heat is to be expected. haha! Stay cool.
I’ve been glistening myself lately here in Virginia! Not yet over 100 tho….
We are from Virginia. We moved to South Carolina last year to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grand baby. Virginia heat is bad, too. 🙂
I always tell my husband that! We glisten in the Carolinas!!
Yes, we lived in NC and now SC and we definitely “glisten”. Today is one of those days. 🙂
You are braver than I am. I simply cannot tolerate the summer heat. It seems the older I get the more intolerable it becomes. It has been nearly impossible to get a walking routine going because if it isn’t extremely hot, we’re dealing with storms. Ugh! C’mon autumn!
I love autumn, too. Hubby and I have missed some walks recently due to this heat and storms. We did take a nice walk the other evening, until the bugs starting chasing us. We forgot the bug spray. haha! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Yeah…heat and bugs…definitely reasons to stay indoors during summer. 😀
Atta Girl for keeping up the walking regime! We’re not quite that warm here in central Kentucky, but it’s pretty close. And I HATE sweating….ain’t no glistening about it.
Thanks for following me! 🙂