From Mona’s desk

Weather, masks and more weather

Summer is here. June 20 is the first day of the summer season and the weather is acting up accordingly. We’ve had wind, rain, wind, hail and a bit more wind, haven’t we.

Tuesday was beautiful - sunny, mild, just gorgeous! I was walking to the grocery store and the breeze and sun felt so good on my face! Then I realized I had left my mask at the office!

When you see a person wearing a mask, I hope the first thought isn’t about fear, caving in and just following along. How about some thoughts of caring, being aware of others and just doing a little something about it. We don’t know why people wear them, they could have health risks we can’t see or live with someone at risk.

I don’t know anyone who wears a fabric mask who professes it’s the end-all of protection. Anyone who believes it’s meant to filter COVID needs a reality check. What it can do, though, is keep other things at bay and help a person be stronger. Some folks who wear masks have said, myself included, that allergies are much less intense this year. I look at it this way - If I have to sneeze and cough with allergies, if you’re around me, you might just be glad that I sneeze into a mask and not on you!

Now, this weather. That wind. About the time I figured I couldn’t stand it anymore, those high winds calmed down. We had six consecutive days (June 13-19) with gusts of 37-49 mph. June 9 the wind speed was 53 mph, the highest gust was 70 and the average wind speed was 62!

Now about Monday evening. My husband and I have an iron table in our front yard out near Pressey. When I say iron, I mean it. The top is an iron grate (think street quality) at least three foot across. The three legs and braces are angle iron. What I’m saying is the doggone thing is heavy. When I got home Monday evening after the storm blew through, the table was on its side in the front yard. My husband said yes, it was the wind. He said the wind seemed to swoop through the yard, upsetting the table and metal lawn chairs, but didn’t seem to touch the house. Weird indeed. The metal sun dial we have sitting on the table was just sitting on the lawn, no cracks, no breaks.

Summer has just begun. No doubt we’ll see a few more episodes of weird weather before fall gets here.