Under the Dog Star

A celestial phenomenon that occurs at about the time of midsummer is the prominence of Sirius, the Dog Star. The so-called 'dog days" bring practically undiluted misery of heat, humidity, and a sense of lassitude, verging on plumb laziness. Occasionally, a vagrant thunderstorm will bring golf-ball hail with it, tear up several roofs and knock apart a trailer or two before passing along in time for the evening news. Domestic canines, who know no Sirius or other strays, having no further responsibility beyond slavish fealty to master or mistress, assume the attitude of absolute relaxation unless there is a sensitivity to thunder and lighting -- or a cat to pursue. Salespersons forget their charming pitches and can summon little more than a sweaty greeting, wishing you a "nice day" when you leave. On such days, air-conditioning units tend to fail, it's too hot even to make iced tea -- one breaks out a fan, almost forgotten since early Spring simply to remain civil. Day upon day tend to compound the malaise exponentially, finally ending with a cold front and a week of respite at the time of equinox. One mentions that really good marriages will hold up under the stress, which has created a situation of give-and-take along with enough love to last at least until Labor Day.

When the syndrome afflicts a well-meaning adult, one must have learned successfully to summon the forces of discipline, and accordingly proceed at cruising speed without heaving to or slowing to a leisurely four or five knots ahead. Other superior beings will do the same at normal speeds, without being supercilious about it all. This observer typified the first two of the reactions to summer doldrums, so long as I was busily involved with the practice of my profession. I must admit to a moderate tendency to being plain ornery when the urge to rest hits the eyelids in the quiet time after lunch, and musing to one's self "one of the advantages of older age and an unanticipated bonus of retirement…."

I suppose the thing for us to learn in dealing with the effects of barometric pressure and the temperature and dew point and heat index is to go ahead and suffer, keeping a tight lip so as not to let anyone see our misery. Then we can assuage that by responding to anyone who says "hello" to you in a loud and obnoxious whine "HOWDY! HOT ENUF FER YE?"