It’s summer in the BC interior which means that today is hot. Blissfully, torturous, glaringly hot. I live exactly 9 minutes-walking with the dogs-from the river. The river is cool. Blissfully, tortuously, glaringly cool.
The air is dry and when you step out from indoors there is a brief searing on your skin. Sunglasses are mandatory. So is the river.
It’s only 36 today but by Friday it will be 39-40 degrees. For those of you in USAville, that’s 102-104. 
We most definitely do not live in igloos.
Even the bees and butterflies and such are lazy in this weather. They fly more slowly. They sit in the shade. Stores sell more ice cream, bars sell more cold beer in frosted glasses, and everyone has a favorite patio. There are summer dresses. There are flip flops.
The hills surrounding my city are filled with wild sage, tiny bright flowered cactus and desert hoodoos. It looks like a movie set against the blue sky. Fat ripe apricots drop from branches all over town making the air sticky sweet.
Floating gently down the river on a tube with a six pack tied behind you in the water is a city wide pastime. The dogs nap under giant maple trees and all meals are made outdoors. The neighborhood smells of BBQ every night. If you listen closely, you can hear the psssst! of beers being opened all down the block.
It’s summertime in the BC interior which means that today is hot. Blissfully, tortuously, glaringly hot.
