Several years ago, heading home from tranquil Lancaster County, PA, where my husband and I had visited relatives, Amish friends, and enjoyed the scenery, we planned to fly out of Philadelphia to find Hurricane Sandy barreling up the East Coast headed straight at us. The airport was mayhem as hundreds of flights were cancelled. My husband and I felt anxious as we entered a jet that might sit on the tarmac then be denied takeoff. But our flight gained clearance; we were grateful to arrive home safely.
As I watch nationwide weather reports, I often think about my friends and relatives in the rest of the country. My jaw drops as I listen to accounts of broiling temperatures, droughts, floods, and tornadoes.
I recall, when living with my grandmother in CT, the sky darkened around noon so much we turned on the lights. Hail slammed down and the wind picked up as a small tornado sauntered up the valley. We lost electricity for days. My grandma didn’t have AC, but she had a freezer full of thawing food.
We piled in her car to inspect the damage in her corner of Litchfield County, and were stunned at the flattened cornfields and uprooted maples and oaks. What I remember the most is the dazed expressions of the people standing at the side of the road staring at their ruined crops, toppled trees, and downed electrical wires. When I watch tornadoes and hurricanes on TV, I multiply my experience in CT by ten. Same goes for the flooding we endured in New Jersey when I was young.
I found it amusing when our local weatherman reported the Pacific Northwest had recently broken a record by having a solid week of over 80 degrees. Most folks would chuckle, but people around here felt miserable because most of them don’t have air-conditioning and they’re not used to it. Maybe that’s what it comes down to. Can you grow used to any weather? Is there somewhere that has perfect climate? Is it all in the eye of the beholder?
Leave a comment and enter to win a novel from the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy: Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or newly released Forever Amish. THREE winners will receive a novel! Their choice.
Congratulations to last week’s winners: Chris-A, Kristin S., and Dori! Each may choose one copy of Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or newly released Forever Amish! I will email you. Thank you, to everyone who entered and left many delightful comments!
It has been a very comfortable summer. Finally getting hot. Love your books.
Good to hear you’re having a comfortable summer, Virginia! Not everyone loves hot, so I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Thanks for writing and thank you so much for your kind words about my books!
This summer hasn’t been to bad on my part of the country. My ideal summer temperature would be high 70’s to lower 80’s with low humidity and , low dew points
I’m glad to hear you’ve had a good summer so far, Ellen. I hope your ideal climate sticks with you until autumn. Thanks for writing. Good luck in the giveaway!
high 60’s low 70’s is perfect for me! San Diego fits the bill and that’s where I live.
Love to win your books, sharon
I’m beginning to appreciate San Diego’s climate more and more, Sharon! And you get to live there, you lucky thing. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway! Good luck!
In the 70’s during the day and 50’s at night. Just kidding–we live north of Chicago, so actual temps can be below zero to over one hundred, so it’s never boring.
Your last winter was brutal, from what friends said and the photos on the news, Constitutionchic! I hope this summer is treating you better. Chicago is never boring, and I sure would like to see the museum’s Impressionist collection again. Thanks for writing and good luck in the giveaway
My idea of the perfect climate in summer is mid 70’s low humidity!
I can’t argue with that, Kathy! Sounds delightful. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I live in the Carolina’s where the temperatures are in the 80’s and 90’s but ideally I’d rather be enjoying sunny San Diego weather where one can go from the mountains, to the dessert, to the beach all in one day and no rain ruining your day. I have enjoyed reading your books and am looking forward to reading Forever Amish. It would be terrific if I could win one of your books.
You do make San Diego sound good, Debbie! thank you for letting me know you’ve enjoyed reading my books! Good luck in the giveaway!
I’ve been looking forward to reading your series. As I can only find two of the three books right now. Hope to start it soon live in berks county in Pa. Not far from where you were, lov egoing to visit that area. Hoping to win one of your books. thank you, Brenda
Wishing you good luck in the giveaway, Brenda, so you’ll have all three books in the trilogy! Thanks for writing!
My idea of perfect climate would be 75 daytime high and 50 nightime low.With this weather I would not need air conditioning or heat.My wallet would love it and Duke Power would hate it.And I would be comfy and happy.
Jackie, they would probably raise your rates even more if the climate stayed the way you like, so they could keep raking in the money. In our city, the water rates climb drastically during the summer; each time you reach a new plateau they raise your rates even more. Ach, don’t even get me started. Thanks for writing!
Hi Kate. I can’t stand the heat as much as I used to so mostly stay in. usually seems 3/4 of the year here is HOt, HOT, HOT.. It has been cooler this summer for longer than usual. I loved summer in Jackson, Wyo. Never needed A/Cs all year, not even in the summer. But snow most all winter. But it is known for skiing, snowboarding, etc. Here we use A/Cs all summer one day then A/C the next. My first two books have sure been getting very lonely for the third one in their family, so sure hope I can
win the 3rd one now. Thanks for a chance. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
I’m sorry your first two books are getting lonely, Maxie! Glad to hear your summer has been cooler this year. Good luck in the giveaway!
In Kansas we have hot summers with breaks like this year a nice cool front came for about a week. Highs were in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s perfect weather…then we have our scorcher days 100+ with high humidity….short Spring and Fall weather….then here comes winter, snow, sleet, ice storms! But Kansas weather can change and we can have a taste of all seasons in one day!!! I myself like the 70 degrees and low humidity, just perfect!
Thanks for that great description of weather in Kansas, Linda! Some Amish friends’ granddaughter recently married and moved there and I often try to imagine the climate when thinking about her. I’m wishing you many days in the low 70s with low humidity this summer. Good luck in the book giveaway!