In this hot summer weather, I must admit I’ve been doing a lot of lollygagging and even some dilly dallying. Now I have no idea where those phrases originally came from, but I remember my grandmother, mother and others using those unusual sayings.
Let’s face it. It’s just been too hot to feel like doing anything! When the temperature gets into the 100s, energy levels decrease and mine sure does. Outdoor time is limited. It seems just going out to water the flowers and container garden is about all that seems to get done outside. Indoors is a refuge, with the air conditioner temperature set as low as it can be. While it is a relief from the heat outdoors, I try not to think of the electric bill that will be forth coming.
Lollygagging time reading a book started a month ago, getting caught up with my magazine reading, checking out some computer projects that haven’t gotten done. Housework has been kept at a minimum and cooking a meal is kept as simple as possible. Firing up the oven to bake something is a no-no. Electric fans are brought out of storage to help stir the inside air around.
Dilly dallying while doing some needed grocery shopping is done to enjoy the air conditioned store as long as possible, knowing soon I’ll have to walk out of the store and back into the heat. The walk is done as quickly as possible from the store to the car so the car air conditioning can soon be felt. One needs to be careful though when first getting into the car as it may have been left too long out in the sun and the steering wheel or seats can make for a hot shock. Dilly dallying could also be done while in the house and knowing that soon a trip will be required outside and so I spend as much time indoors as possible.
Thoughts go to the days when air conditioning was not in everyone’s home or vehicle. It’s hard to imagine taking a family vacation during the summer months, in a non air conditioned car, all crowded together traveling for miles and miles. Trying to sleep in a non air conditioned house caused many sleepless nights, as a child. Mothers then did all the laundry, cooking, baking, cleaning and sewing without the comfort of air conditioning. It is hard for us to believe today. Farmers rode on cabless tractors and combines. Others worked in factories, or stores without air conditioning.
We need to admit that we have it made with our air-conditioning! We shouldn’t complain, but we still do, even when we lollygag or dilly dally!
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