I dunno if it is climate change or what. I am no denier- I mean, the global temperature, based on limited samplings, has rocketed upward by almost a full degree (Celsius) since 1850. So, things change.

But it was a cold winter here and I am still chilled in the middle of June when I rise in the morning.

Being down in the country has a calming affect, and Mother Gaia has not pummeled the farm with sheets of rain for a couple days. I like the steel roof- it reflects what is going on out there and it is oddly comforting to be under the eiderdown and know I am nice and secure.

The Jet Stream has veered just enough north to carry the worst of it to the north, where it belongs, And consequently, we had a streak of two Perfect Days.

In the aviation world, we had something called ‘Standard Days,’ with a designated set of values for things like humidity and temperature and altitude at an ideal airfield. It was something that our pilots could use to plan payloads and mission endurance. It was an estimate, of course, like all the rest of it, and sometimes misleading.

Sometimes fatally. But never mind. Dad once saw a squadron buddy get airborne one time with his wings still folded on his Skyraider. The show must go on, and better to die than look bad, as I recall the saying.

Anyway, I wanted to comment on the excellence of what I call the ‘Culpeper Standard Day.’

Get up with the lightening of the sky over the pastures to the east. Grab the cup of coffee (or the first cocktail) and go out to the deck to watch the sunrise. Listen to the critters coming awake, and hearing the Cardinal that spends his day attacking the black car in the drive, fence to windshield, windshield to fence, then a flurry against the driver’s side door. Repeat for twelve hours, clock out and go back to the trees for happy hour, or whatever they do up there.

Observe the squirrel super-highway on the top rung of the fence, as they seem to be reluctant to be down on the gravel with Empress Cat and Red Fox and her new kit.

Low humidity. Plenty of sun. The sound of the chickens and turkeys waking up over at the Russian dacha next door. The temperature rising just to comfort level, not the wet mop that I recall from years of summer living here. Heck, we have not seen our first spate of 100-degree awful days yet.

Yesterday was just as nice. I could get used to this kind of Standard Day if the jet stream permits. I think you would approve.

Copyright 2019 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com