September 2025
by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
It’s been blazing hot for the last two months, but it’s finally September. Isn’t that when we get to start thinking about fall? I’m sure looking forward to thinking about fall weather.
If you read my columns, you know I hate summer. I’ve griped about it for years. Until this summer, I used to whine about temperatures in the 80s. Well, now I know that was nothing. Despite its name, Hot Springs is usually the coolest place in Virginia, no matter the season. Still, the thermometer surpassed 90 degrees and moved way too close to 100 on many July and August days this year.
I attempted all sorts of heat wave procedures. I went for my walk at 9 a.m. when it was as pleasant as it was going to get. Then I came home to work or read on the porch with a fan blowing on my face. At home, I was most often clad in a pair of summer pajamas. If you happen to drop by (and no one hardly does), you will probably find me in my pajamas.
I could not tell you the last time I’ve turned on my stove or oven. In summer, I am perfectly happy with a bowl of cold cereal with berries and bananas for “blinner.” That’s breakfast, lunch and dinner rolled into one. Now that it’s a little cooler, I’m looking forward to pot pie weather.
I detest having to go to Covington to shop in the summer. There seems to be nothing but hot asphalt everywhere. I wondered now and then if I would even be able to haul my groceries to the car without passing out.
Speaking of that, I “lost” my car at Walmart one fiery, oppressively hot afternoon. There were more cars than usual in the lot, and the area I usually park in was filled. The trouble occurred when I came back outside. I could not find the dang car. I slogged up one aisle and down another, sweating and swooning. I truly felt faint.
Thank heavens I saw a couple I knew and begged them to drive me around the parking lot until we found my car. They were kind enough to comply.
Here’s a funny story a friend of mine named Suzy experienced in a grocery store parking lot, also on a blisteringly hot day. She shopped, got in her car and suddenly heard a scream: “Help me, please! Someone help me!”
Suzy looked around and saw a lady in a nearby car bent over the steering wheel. She went over and asked the lady, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been shot!” the woman cried. Upon closer examination, Suzy saw what really happened. She could barely keep from laughing out loud.
“You’ll be okay,” she told the lady. “It’s just biscuits.”
“Biscuits?!” the lady exclaimed. “What do you mean?”
Suzy pointed to biscuit dough on the lady’s shoulders. “A can of biscuits exploded in the heat,” she said.
This does not sound like the kind of mishap that can occur in September. Can it really be time to finally break out the sweaters? I sure hope so!
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