Hot Flashes

During the day, especially in the afternoon when the sun beats down on this side of the house, my ears periodically catch fire and then my arms, and then I break out in a glistening sweat and have to wipe my brow and upper lip. I find myself turning up the floor fan or turning down the air conditioner. Then it goes away, and I resume what I was doing.

During the night, it happens, too. I lie on my side of the bed as detached as I possibly can be from anything else, in preparation for the flashes that come and go. When they come, my arms heat up and then my head and then my legs, and I throw off the sheet and lie spread-eagle under the ceiling fan. Then they go away, and I turn over and sleep.

I stood outside this morning under calm grey skies and turned to look south-east. A cool morning breeze blew past the Crepe Myrtle and Texas Persimmon and came between the Oaks and Ash trees to stroke my face. The air was fresh. The yard was glowing gentle green.

I stood there for a few moments, breathing in the air and gazing at the springtime about me and wished that I might summon that breeze when the hot flashes return.

8:44:55 AM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []