Well, for those of you who don’t follow the weather too closely, we have to say that this past June and early July haven’t been exactly ideal.

First, our neighbors in the North, Oh Canada, sent us their smoke from the wildfires that looked like there was something burning in our own backyard, and then we almost got rained out on graduation weekend!

And for those who didn’t notice, July Fourth Weekend was touch and go, with some violent thunderstorms sending people running for cover at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and also ruining more than one backyard barbecue.

And many of our local gardeners are reporting less than ideal growing conditions, with cucumbers suffering, and many other plants off to a slow start. And let’s not even mention the late frost that put a deep freeze on our apple crop.

Mother Nature… you need a talking to.

How about 76 to 81 degrees for about four weeks, with a high pressure system over Sullivan County, including nice white clouds in the skies. We need to do a little fishing, golfing, sunbathing, barbecuing, walking and enjoying the great outdoors before the summer’s over!

Seriously, can’t you just even it out just a little bit?

In addition to the freak flash freezes we experienced, you left us with a drought that lasted well past its welcome date; leaving us at risk to wild fires and other dangers. After all that dryness, you now decide it’s a good time to drown out all of our recent holiday festivities?

Listen, as long as you give us some genuine summer days with long sunshine and suitable swimming weather, we might just forgive you for your recent downpour-like behavior. 

Of course, we do appreciate when the Sun does shine through, as we have noticed a number of Sullivan County residents have taken the opportunity by the horns and have begun again the yearly tradition of taking a dip in the Delaware Youth Center’s spacious pool, as well as the many spots along the Delaware River that have become famous for their sights and swell spots to beat the heat.