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On ne vous laissera pas dehors!
Yields that refresh your faith
When crunch time comes, what are your priorities? As these lines are being written, we are indeed experiencing a crunch time -- crunch as in the noise you make if you venture onto a patch of parched grass. It has become so dry that we look to the heavens and are actually disappointed to see that the skies are clear and blue, and that there is not even a hint of moisture in the air. In the midst of our annual dry spell, we are reminded of that bromide about herds in a desert. When the oasis shrinks, the animals start looking at each other a little differ- ently. For humans, when vitals become scarce, our priorities become clearer. Or at least that is the theory. A long rain-free period is cause for concern for farmers, food producers and people who draw water from shallow wells. However, for most of the masses, a lack of precipi- tation presents few serious consequences. In fact, a drought is another opportunity to test our abilities to conserve resources and try to change our wasteful ways. Although we are more environmentally conscious than ever before, few of us have adopted year-round water conservation measures. Every summer, we go through a dry stretch when the garden is stunted and the grass becomes so spiky it is almost painful to stroll across the lawn. Yet, even when there is almost no green vegetation to cut, some avid lawn mowers are still out there, whipping up a storm of dust and dead grass. These zealous cutters remind us that we are such creatures of habit. You become accustomed to cutting the grass at least once a week; it is almost instinctive to fire up the mower, even if the lawn resembles a desert. Don’t get offended, people, but sometimes the lawn must be ignored. That may seem like heresy to those who declare chemical warfare on dandelions every spring and spend the summer manicuring their properties. But, despite appearances, dry grass will survive. Grass is almost indestructible. Just ask any gardener who struggles to keep the stuff out of their flower beds and veg- etable patches. OK, stifled blades may not look “nice,” but they are only dormant. They will perk up after the next good rain. So, apart from that, how have you been handling the heat? You can easily tell if a person always enjoys the comforts of air-conditioning, a rela- tively modern comfort that has become a ubiquitous and invaluable staple, at home, at work, in the car. The cool person is rested and exudes a confidence bordering on smugness. On the other hand, the AC-challenged tend to look tired and dishevelled. These poor people have not had a good night’s sleep since May. Their homes are so stinking hot they work up a sweat just trying to find a good place to place the fan. To get a break from the heat, they loiter in the meat departments of frigid grocery stores. Honestly, how did we ever survive before the arrival of air conditioning? Anyway, persistent warm temperatures can take a toll on our moods. Which might explain the case of gas pump rage we reported on last week. Allegedly, a Montréal man winged out when somebody cut in front of him in line at a gas bar near Hawkesbury. Words were exchanged; another customer intervened; a kick was exchanged. The angry customer has been charged with assault and mischief. There are many signs that our civilization, as we once knew it, is teetering on the abyss, headed for hell in a hand basket. For one thing, deer flies and ticks have been particularly abundant and vicious this summer. But, come to think of it, when was the last time you encountered a pleasant blood-sucking bug? We ought to take a step back and take a look at the big picture. We don’t need to con- sult weather records to know that our summers have become hotter over the last few years. If these patterns continue, we can expect to encounter more extreme weather, and more heat-related challenges, in the years to come. On a happier note, consider the patience demonstrated by several motorists last week when an accident occurred near Grenville. A driver lost control of his vehicle while travelling on Highway 148, slicing off a hydro pole before ending up in a ditch. Fortunately, the motorist survived the crash, but the accident caused a power outage. Surprisingly, there was no widespread panic when people learned that they would have to make do without AC, television or Internet service for a few hours. A potentially more serious impact of the black-out was that traffic lights were not functioning. So here you are in the middle of the day, with traffic zipping along the 148 and Grenville’s Maple Street, two of the busiest roads in the area, and there are no lights to control the traffic. Motorists regulated themselves, treating the lights as if there were Arrêt signs, just like it was written in the “So, You Want to Drive During An Afternoon Power Outage in Québec” driver’s manual. People were polite, yielding to motorists who arrived at the intersections before them, and proceeding only when it was safe to do so. This scene was all so very refreshing, like a cold glass of water on a hot day. Put 9-1-1 on speed dial, right? A catastrophe was waiting to happen. But, amazingly, there were no reports of any rage at intersections.
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