Life As Performance Art 117

I find it odd that people are saying that we are having hot weather. We are not having a heat wave. I think the highest temperature recorded here so far this summer has been at around 28 degrees. Otherwise it has coasted along in the low to mid twenties, usually at around 22 or 23, which is not hot at all. In Paris as it sizzles, they have just survived a record heat wave with temperatures up around 43 degrees celsius, or double that the soft little sissies here in Vancouver whine about as hot. How would they possible cope in Paris? Even I'm not used to warmer temperatures, and even though I have my fan on during the summer, I refuse to call this weather hot. I am thinking of many of my Latin american friends, whom by their own description are themselves friolentos, or do not cope well in cold weather. To a lot of them, what we are experiencing here in Vancouver is actually cold weather. I am also thinking of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, situated high on a mountain plateau, some 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) above sea level. Almost everyone in Colombia comments or complains of how cold that city is, for its high altitude (and some of its dreadfully snobby and introverted residents, but I also happen to know some very nice people who live in Bogotá) According to Uncle Google, the climate in Bogotá is cool and overcast. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 44°F to 66°F (6 and 18) and is rarely below 37°F (3) or above 70°F (21). This compares to the weather here in Vancouver from April to June. In April it ranges between 6 and 13 degrees, or between 42 and 57 F. In May it is between 9 and 16 and in June, between 11 and 19. So then, Bogotá is like perpetual spring for visiting Vancouverites. Personally I love the weather there, even the dramatic thunder and lightning storms. But for Colombians, used to average temperatures up in the thirties and relentless sunshine in most other parts of the country, we had might as well be talking about an Antarctic expedition when we mention Bogotá. Right now, in my part of the world, we are finally enjoying a moderate, gentle and mild summer, with temperatures around the low twenties, lots of sun, some clouds, a little bit of rain, and an unusually green city for the end of July. This contrasts with the climate change horror stories we are hearing about from around the world. We are enjoying this respite. I think a lot of us are also a little bit nervous. We still have August to get through, and if we make it without wildfires transforming our air and sky into an apocalyptic setting for a couple of weeks then we'll be doing very well. We don't know what to expect, so best embrace the day and the moment, to extract from it the maximum joy that we can and to pay this joy forward to others. Nothing in life is certain. How we wish it weren't so, but reality does have some interesting and sometimes rather nasty ways of setting in on us. For now, outside, it is overcast, cool, and the temperature is around 17 degrees. Pleasantly cool and perfect for walking.