-^-for posterity-^-

i had forgotten about the heat. i didn't remember that it seemed to have the power to remove all intelligible thought from a person's head. i forgot that it somehow physically pushed down on you and made you feel ten pounds heavier. i forgot that it acted as a barrier to going anywhere, that, almost like a downpour, people are obliged to stay inside.

today i drove down dusty streets, even though it is the middle of the rainy season, in the early afternoon. i had much to do but little motivation. something inside of me just didn't want to turn. because i couldn't just sit in my room, i mounted my trusty, black bicycle (once named 'dusk') and headed off through the nearly empty streets.

the sweat came. it poured out of my body and escaped into the air. i drove my bicycle slowly, pushing down on the pedals as they came to the top of their rotation and letting their momentum push my feet back up.

then the dust. it swirled and bit me when i made one turn down the main street. i squinted my eyes and turned my head sideways. the little sweat that did not instantly evaporate from my head acted like glue. my face was now a gritty mask of dust.

the heat and the dust. it's all rather easy to deal with once you've gotten used to everything. right now i'm still used to sitting on a wicker chair on the back deck looking out at the silver maple trees dance lazily in the breeze.