2026 Life Logs, Day 104: A Taste of Summer
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Weather: Sunny and Summer Warm; High Temp 75, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
The record high in Falmouth for this day is 81 degrees F. Today was only 75 but it felt really great—more like summer than spring. I got up this morning knowing it was going to be warmer today, but I still put on a lightweight thermal knit shirt. I headed out for my morning walk with Shadow and by the time I got home, I was literally sweating. Off came the thermal knit and on with a tank top and a long-sleeved blouse. That was much better! Unfortunately, I had to spend most of the rest of the day inside, but every time I went out with Shadow, it was sheer delight. Plus I opened up the house and let the fresh air sweep through. It was wonderful.
Being hot this morning was not my only early problem. I woke up feeling just awful. I have developed a serious cough, but no other symptoms other than sinus drainage.. No temperature. Negative Covid test. No runny nose. I took the first Ibuprofen I have taken since just before my back surgery in January of 2024. I had so many things to do today and needed a little help. The Ibuprofen did help and on I went.
My first stop was my book club. The book this month was Becoming Madame Secretary by Stephanie Dray. The book is just average historical fiction literature, but its greatness comes from getting you acquainted with one of the most accomplished women in US history. She was the very first woman ever appointed to serve in a US President’s cabinet, making her the first Secretary of Labor. FDR saw her brilliance and persuaded her to abandon her devotion to working for Al Smith to join him when he was first elected President in 1932. She stayed on with him through his four unprecedented terms as President until his death in 1945. At an early age, she recognized that fighting poverty improved the country for everyone and she devoted her entire life to this. Social Security was her idea and only through her steadfast determination did it ever get through Congress. She established unemployment compensation, banned child labor, initiated a minimum wage, enshrined the 40-hour work week. And she did all of this while staying devoted to a brilliant husband who was bi-polar and had to be institutionalized in New York City while she lived in Washington. She visited him on weekends and single-handedly raised their daughter who ended up to have the same mental issues as her father. I could go on all night about the accomplishments of Frances Perkins, but instead, I suggest you read the book. The other striking thing about the book are the comparisons made between what was happening the United States in the 1930’s and today. And when I compare Frances Perkins to our current Secretary of Labor it literally makes me sick at my stomach. How could we have stooped so low?
The rest of the day was focused on doing my taxes, writing the Encore May and June program promos for the newsletter with the deadline being tomorrow, taking Ollie to his saxophone lesson and then on to soccer. After that I had to get myself to a Board of Library Trustees meeting where I had to present the quarterly financial report. And then I had a very long late evening conversation with the doctor in charge of my sister’s wellbeing this week. She has made an amazing turn around and he was trying to convince me that she is ready to be released from the hospital. I think not yet. We shall see what tomorrow brings. Whew! It was quite a day. Thank goodness for Ibuprofen.
