The heat is on, on the street,
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat’s so loud, dep inside
The pressure’s high, just to stay alive
‘Cause the heat is on……Glenn Fry
I wonder if Mr. Fry lived in the desert, because, for the last week, the heat’s been turned up. Summer is breathing down our necks here in Northwestern Nevada. Yesterday, I needed an outing. Finding myself lounging in the air conditioned nest that is Winterpast, days dwindle by without very much excitement. A bloom here, a baby tomato there. Just not much else going on. Laziness is great in moderation, however, there comes a point when a girl just has to get out.
Not factoring in the extreme heat of the last days of spring, I needed to travel to the garden center for a stroll through rows of dogwoods or mulberry trees. Classical fountains, or whimsical yard art just an hour away, there’s a delightful garden center that’s a great place to visit.
It was then Oliver looked up at me with his soulful eyes. I knew what he was thinking. “What about me, Mom? Don’t I ever get a playground adventure?” Oliver is not a “sit in the car and wait” kind of dog. I wouldn’t have a car left. Oliver likes to chew.
With a little thought and a phone call, I made arrangements for Oliver to visit “Doggie Day Camp” for the morning. He would lose his mind visiting with his old pals, Vinnie and Oscar, as well as the office cat, Jasmine. All his lady friends were there to pamper him, and I could run to the garden center to shop.
When we arrived, the morning was still on the cool side, and the camp counselors rushed to the door to scoop up Ollie and love on him. He didn’t even look back, already having a great time. I was on my own until noon, when I’d retrieve him and head back home.
First, I visited my favorite hardware store, “See-Al”. VST and I frequented this store when we lived in Virginia City. They carry everything from crafted jams and jellies to turnbuckles, nuts, and bolts. I drifted into the clothing section to find a country girl t-shirt in plum. Sure enough, they had a nice selection. Again, anyone who knows me well enough could tell you whether I’m wearing blazers, hoodies, spring dresses or shorts and tees. These days, shorts and tees rule. In the high desert, the dress code is breathable comfort, with many days well over 100 degrees.
Driving through the town, ghosts of the past haunted my thoughts. There are many days, still, I find it mind boggling that VST is gone. We spent hours together in the car running errands or picking up project supplies. These trips were always tied to lunch or dinner, as we ate out at least one meal of the day. Driving by our favorite restaurants and casinos alone was a strange and lonely feeling.
The Garden Center was to open at 9 AM. What? With summer just days away and temperature spiking, what “garden center” opens at 9 AM? Real gardeners are up at the crack of dawn and finishing their work by noon, looking for an afternoon siesta. But, this place opens at 9 AM. With a few minutes to spare, I took a parking spot right up front along with a dozen other cars. Real gardeners all, we waited.
And Waited.
AND WAITED.
I really don’t know the outcome, because I left at 9:20. Employees were leisurely watering the plants. Fountains tinkled. Windchimes dinged. The garden cat snoozed in the sun. All behind locked gates. When I left, 30 patrons stood on very hot asphalt, waiting. No dog mulberry is worth that. I’ll be traveling to the other, better garden center from now on. Besides, they’re normal. They open at 7 AM.
The rest of my morning was just as underwhelming. Shelves were sparse or empty. Merchandise looked trampled, repackaged, and still for sale from last year. Tired employees were stuck wearing masks because of company policy. An environment that made yesterday’s shopping something I don’t really want to try again any time soon.
I can only speculate how many more weeks the department stores I visited can stay afloat. Void of customers, employees moved merchandise around to make the shelves look full. The night before, I’d ordered supplies from a large online box store. My purchases will arrive today, fresh and clean. All without the trouble of traveling over an hour to a town I really don’t want to visit anymore.
After purging another closet and enjoying a quick yogurt for dinner, the skies opened up on my little town. A huge thunderstorm brought relief to the desert sands and the gardens of Winterpast. Rain’s a lovely gift at the end of a very long and hot day. Stay cool. Because…
The shadows high on the darker side
Behind the doors, it’s a wilder ride
You can make a break, you can win or lose
That’s the chance you take, when the heat’s on you…..(Glenn Frey)