It has been very hot - unusual for August. Hot and humid. MOST unusual.
I watered my little bit of earth Saturday evening. Early Sunday morning I was awakened by what I took for deer outside my window making rather a racket. Then I heard rain - RAIN in mid August. Thunder, lightning, absolutely unheard of. But indeed, this happened.
The stifling heat has continued. I do what I learned to do in Israel, when we didn't have airconditioners. Pull down shades and make everything dark as possible. Open up the house when the sun goes down. And the sun goes down in a breathtaking fashion.
Yesterday I took my car to the car wash. This morning I awoke to the stifling heat with streaming eyes and the smell of .... smoke, ash. I decided to go for a walk at the Berkeley Marina where at least there may be somewhat of a cool breeze. My clean car was covered in ash. I made a futile attempt to wipe it off While doing so the driver in a car coming down Stockton stopped next to me. An Indian gentleman said "ash because of the fires. Bad air because of the fires." He is right - I nodded sympathetically and we wished each other well.
I arrived at the Marina and parked my car. A woman was just getting into her car in front of me.
"Lord," she said. "It is hot - go by the bayside. Also, you can't see nothing - the air is so bad." I nodded sympathetically, and she continued. "My son is near Japan on the Ronald Reagan," the man in the White House doesn't know what he's doing. A ripple from Japan comes across the pond toward us.
What he doin? Building walls - taking breasting babies from their mothers. It aint right. Sending those border police to cities, helicopters on us? It aint right. And now the Post Office - and all them black people being killed by the cops, and everyone sick and dying. It aint right."
What his daughter and Melania doin"? What they know?"
I kept nodding in acquiescence - but each time I opened my mouth (under my mask) to say something, she carried on. Her mask was under her chin, as she had finished her walk - perhaps it was easier for her to speak. Also, I agreed with every single thing she said.
She got ready to get in her car. As she opened the door I said "we have to vote."
"Right she said," turning on the car, 'and we got to keep on laughin.'
"Take care," I waved as she left.
It is wednesday - the week is far from over.
3 comments:
She should run for office!! So sad but true and beautifully spoken.
I, too, agree with the Marina walker, an apt depiction of this presidency and the daily horror in which we live.
You know I agree with your fellow Marina walker!
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