As we sat on the back porch and looked at the haze smothering the countryside, we agreed it was good to get outside.
Air conditioning is a wonderful thing.
But while I can't imagine living without it, I sometimes hate the way it makes us prisoners of the great indoors. In fact, through the miracle of heat pumps and central air conditioning, some of us barely notice when the seasons change. We stay cooped up in our living rooms and kitchens with shades drawn and curtains closed to the outside world. Without a calendar or a weather map with its cute little icons we wouldn't know if it was time for tulips to come up or colorful leaves to fall down. It's such a shame, because, as my mother realizes, there's nothing nicer than a warm spring breeze or a chilly gust of autumn air.