The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Our wants have changed and our needs are few

July 2, 2012

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. I was lying on the living room carpet, spread-eagled, with the old box fan next to me blowing on my upper body. It makes a humming noise, much like the box fan of my childhood living room floor naps in the heat, and it was all about comfort. Comfort, comfort. We associate heat with comfort up in these parts, but my gosh, people, this is above and beyond. We have an air conditioned house, but it didn't seem enough and you don't want the house to simply keel over in exhaustion, so I keep it at a reasonable 76 degrees and that seems to work for everyone.

But this is some heat, heat without mercy. It provides an excuse for just about anything, and helps clarify what a person wants to do and what a person needs to do, and we're all finding our wants have changed and our needs are few. I ran over to the grocery store Sunday, stocked up on sandwich meat and ingredients for my fruit dessert and lemonade. Big need, as the kids aren't interested in grilling outside this Fourth of July, heat index way up there in the obscenity range. I needed to water the flowers and pick up a few pair of shorts (the kids are rebels and tend toward jeans) and I needed to get the car checked because there were a few lights flashing and now that's fine.

Frankly, I feel like arguing with Mr. Sundberg about gas grills vs. charcoal (I prefer the latter) and about how no, we did not spend twice as much time with my relatives as opposed to his last summer, and about how he might consider wearing shorts other than that plaid pair he's had on for several days now. I do feel a bit like gathering the kids up and giving them a good holler about drinking more water and eating more fruit and that sour cream and onion potato chips and beef sticks do not constitute a meal. And I feel like telling the neighbor lady to leave her flowers alone. They'll do just fine in the heat and she doesn't need to hover over them and pick at them for hours on end because they are flowers and flowers are tougher than we give them credit for. And I kind of want to tell the other neighbor to lay off the jazz music blasting out the window all afternoon. None of these things are needs, and they tend toward wants, but out of my crabby side. Because I do have one, and I'm hot, and when people are hot they get prickly.

However, there are better things to do in the world on the hottest day than haul off with all your frustrations. Turn it around, people. Don't let the heat keep you from loving the people you love. I'm going to make some frozen fruit dessert now, because I want to. And I'll call my parents and make sure they're hydrated, and then I'm considering filling the tub with lemonade and shaved ice and resting there awhile. I would highly recommend it. Pink lemonade, even. Sure.

Here's a recipe from a few years back, a great one, and perfect for a stretch of long, hot days. Give it a try. And save some for yourself.

Frozen Fruit Dessert

6 oz can frozen oj
6 oz can frozen lemonade
2 10 oz packages frozen strawberries
1 small jar maraschino cherries and juice
1 small can crushed pineapple and juice

Cook 1 cup sugar and 2 cups water until sugar is dissolved.
Add strawberries while water is hot. Add remaining ingredients.
Finally, add 4 cut up bananas. Stir gently. Freeze in a 9 x 13 pan.
Cut into squares and serve in small bowls.

Enjoy!

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