Monday, June 9, 2008

It's getting hot in here!

The New Jersey/New York region is in the midst of a heat wave - and it's not even summer yet!

With temperatures in the upper 90s and heat indexes making it feel like 100+, people living in this area don't need to be outside unless it's necessary. Schools are either closing early or just didn't open at all today and there are plans for the same tomorrow, when the high will feel like 101 degrees and the air so thick you feel like you can't breath. And cities have opened cooling centers for people who don't have air conditioning.

While most people - including me - are complaining about the heat from our cool offices, it made me think of those who work outside. How are they faring?

I just went to the bank and was outside all of 45 seconds to walk from my office to my car, my car to the bank, the bank back to my car and finally, my car back to my office door. I thought I was going to combust!

As I was driving, I passed some traffic surveyors, who were in full uniform, standing on the side of the road observing traffic. I also passed a postman walking door to door delivering the mail. And I saw a crew of landscapers manicuring a lawn.

All I could do was shake my head and thank God that I don't work outside.

So, on days like this - when it's too hot to justify being outside - or even too cold in the winter - take a minute to think about the people whose work forces them to brave the heat and cold to pay the bills.

By the way, the first day of summer is June 21.

Stay cool!

1 comment:

Torri Bradshaw said...

I always think of my father, who has worked outside for 20+ years. I applaud him for his duty to the profession, his wife and kids. It's an undertaking that most men wouldn't want to do, some men have to do, and for the few talented men like my father, have created a business doing for the last 22 years, despite the fact that he is 4 shades darker from the sun. In an industry where your job depends on the economy, he hasn't given up on the housing market or himself. As close as it is to Father's day, I applaud my father, EH!