So Long, Sucka--I Mean, Summer!

We moved to Phoenix in December. The weather was beautiful.

I will admit that shortly after we arrived, I found myself wondering what all the complaining about Phoenix's hot weather was about. Admittedly, we moved here in during the best season of the year. Even as the months went on, though, and things started warming up, I couldn't help but think that people were exaggerating about how hot the summers are here. March went by, then April...sure it was getting warmer, but nothing unbearable. The evenings were still cool, and weather in the 90s is definitely not the worst thing that can happen in the world.

May came and it got even warmer. Then June, then July.

Then I became a believer.

The summers here really are that hot. And it's a 24/7 hot, too, with no breaks, no cool nights, no refreshing wind. Just a stagnant, oppressive, constant heat that keeps your A/C running all the live-long day, and sends sweat trickling down your back just from walking across the room to plug in the vacuum.

6 months of summer, that is our sentence.

I must interject that I absolutely prefer heat to cold, and I really do love living here, despite the lengthy summers. Still, though...

I don't mind at all being the first to say a friendly adieu to swim diapers, bathing suits, sunscreen, sandwiches for dinner, ridiculous electric bills, yellow grass, shorts, swim lessons, and a 125 degree garage.

Hello again to cool nights, nice breezes, evenings outside, open windows, pumpkin-scented candles, baking, soup for dinner, driving with the windows down, closed-toe shoes, and yes, even...pants.

Here is the part of the year where friends and family are jealous of where we live.

So, as "fall" slowly descends here in the Valley, I am smiling...and just a tiny bit smug.