Sweet June is a "Hottie"

She tripped lightly during her introduction of hot and humid days we cannot blame on March or May. Generally, we have been accustomed to a rather more dignified attitude as she gently registers each of her days at sunset.

Instead, she has, of late, turned the sweet farewell of May into the intolerable temperatures approaching the "100" mark even before the Equinox. All the things that we remember of June have given way to her becoming the home of somewhat less than the perfection poets have ascribed to her short and lovely sojourn. ("What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days").

The poet had rural England in mind, not the distant climes of Northeastern Arkansas. What ARE these qualities we are missing this year?

Why, June is the month of brides, complete with the celebration of Father's Day to honor the deep-pocketed dads who pay for these weddings. We remember the graduations --- if not the verbiage --- that marked the rite of passage we all may look back upon with pride. June Week greets our young officers graduating from the service academics each year as summer swings them into active duty serving our country. That usually coincides with baseball's All-Star game, which honors that great institution --- the all-American sport.

Getting back to the brides and grooms singing Gershwin tune to full moons during the longest night in the year -- The Equinox -- that marks our having made it safely into summertime.

Look here, June --- stay sweet and forget about being the year's slutty little hottie. It doesn't become you. You might honor us with a gentle rain, with temps in the mid-eighties, and all will be forgiven --- you may help us thumb our noses at those ruffians July and August waiting in the wings of good old Father Time --- to whom this aging scribe pays his own homage.