Hot Morning Outing

I thought I would be out of the tropics by now, but I probably won’t be going anywhere for quite a while.  We are in stay-at-home lockdown, with such exceptions as Tuk walking to work and me foraging the neighborhood for food on foot – just as I did during the massive flooding in 2011.  (Thank the gods for 7/11 convenience stores, always well stocked; we have several within walking distance.) 

Today’s most urgent anticipated task was to try and find cat litter for our two felines.  I had to see if the little pet store down the road was still open during this round of forced closures, and if it wasn’t then I would have to figure something else out.  Then I got a call from Tuk just after 08:00 from her office.  She had forgotten an important data-drive in her home computer and needed it at work; could I take it to her?  So, I quickly showered and put on some of my more presentable clothes – but still short pants rather than long ones in this heat. 

I stepped outside at 08:30 and it was already sweltering beyond belief.  My face mask, quasi-mandatory wear now, just made it worse.  There was sweat stinging my eyes after going only 20 meters, in the shade.  I had a rolled bandana/headband in my pocket, but planned to use it only when I left the office campus.  There was some wind and a little shade, but the sun was brutal.  I handed off the thumb-drive to Tuk outside her office and then headed off campus by a back gate nearest the pet store, which I was happy to see still open for business. 

Now carrying two really heavy bags of cat litter in my backpack, I head down the road towards the 7/11 store.  I start feeling a bit faint and wonder why.  Holy shit, am I sick?  Then I realize I hadn’t had time to eat or drink anything and was most probably dehydrated from sweating so abundantly from the heat plus the heavy load.  I usually eat a decent breakfast with well over a pint-and-a-half of liquids, but not this morning. 

The 7/11 store has a powerful a/c and I am drenched.  Mask still on, my glasses fog and drip condensation.  Then I lift my head up a bit to see some upper shelves, and sweat that had been trapped by my mask streams down my neck, under my shirt and pants into my crotch.  Damn! 

As soon as I step out of the store, I mop the sweat out of my eyes again and put my headband on.  I arrive home soaked clear through.  And this entire trek was only one kilometer.  Sweat City. 

Once in the house, our feline masters briefly open their eyes and raise their heads just enough to glance at me.  I’m quite certain of what they were telegraphing to me with those looks: “It sure took you long enough; and, oh, do turn on the fan.”  Then heads back down and off to regal feline slumber.  And we think we are at the top of the animal kingdom’s hierarchy? 

-Zenwind. 

.