Bye Bye Hot Summer

Summer ended about a week ago.

It was HOT.

Very hot.

So hot that we came within two days of breaking the annual record for triple-digit temperatures. How many triple-digit temperature days did we have? 67, 68?

Summer was odd too. Freaky.

1. Too much death. In June, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson died unexpectedly...as did many other high profile celebrities: actress Farrah Fawcett, tv personality Ed McMahon, journalist Walter Cronkite, Senator Ted Kennedy, his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver (founder of Special Olympics), director John Hughes (directed films I enjoyed in my teens), singer Mary Travers, and actor Patrick Swayze.

2. Too much wonder. I love watching Chloe and Sophia slowly discover the world around them. Chloe is very physically active, rambunctious, and expressive. Screams suffice for a lack of words. Sophia is now alert and responds with smiles and giggles. Beautiful.

3. Too much disrespect. Summer went out in poor style as tennis star Serena Williams, in a fit of rage, berated a line judge...badly... and acted very nonchalant when interviewed about the incident. Teen queen Taylor Swift won and MTV Video Award and was rudely interrupted when rapper Kanye West dashed upon stage, took her mike, and shouted that Beyonce should have won instead. Tacky. To his credit, he did apologize and Ms. Swift graciously accepted. And Congressman Joe Wilson, during President Obama's speech about health care, shouts out, "Liar!" Irrational. At least he apologized and the President graciously accepted. And so continues our world of rage, selfishness, fear, all of which lead to outrageous behavior.

Speaking of Joe Wilson, former President Jimmy Carter said he believes the attacks on Obama are "overwhelmingly" due to racism. Well, that certainly set off a firestorm. I think Carter should have said "some" of the attacks are motivated by racism. That would be true, considering the racial caricatures that conservatives levied throughout the campaign and continue to do so today (illustrations of water melons on the White House lawn, Obama's head on a monkey, Obama made out to appear as an African savage, etc). I can say so much more about fear tactics that prey on white fear about black anger, threats to white privilege, and fear of Muslims (one of whom Obama is not). Anyway, there's no denying the racial element. At the same time, I believe the bigots are on the fringes.

Did I not say it was a hot summer?

4. You know what I love about the coming of fall? College Football!! My Texas Longhorns are off to a 4-0 start, having knocked off Texas Tech. Now on to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and everyone else this season! And then...the National Championship!!