Summer Cyclones

Summer weather has struck in the US with a vengeance. Mother Earth must be out of sorts and is certainly reminding us humans that whatever we do and however we may do it, there are simply times when we must bow to greater forces. Thus, in the arid West, forest fires, whether caused naturally or by human agents, have literally been leaving scorched earth in their aftermath. It is unfortunately not only scorched earth, but the wreckage of well-loved homes, with dreams, aspirations and hopes also having gone up in smoke. Thank heavens that the loss of human life has not been a major factor. The State of Colorado, for example, has been declared a "disaster area" by the President, making it eligible for federal assistance in combating fires there.  

Earlier in the Spring, there was a spate of flooding in various locations. People were just beginning to catch their breaths - in labored fashion to be sure because the East Coast has recently been suffering from a heat wave with temperatures at record-breaking highs, e.g., 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) in Washington, DC. But whammo! This past weekend, ferocious thunderstorms hit the area, killing a total of 13 so far. There are still around 750,000 households in the area without electricity, with emergency crews working around the clock. The heat has not let up and, believe me, the Washington, DC area in the summer is an area where it is almost impossible to survive without air conditioning! Those whose power is still out but who are able to travel are seeking refuge in shopping malls, coffee shops and emergency shelters.

It looks as if I should have timed my travel plans to the DC area a bit better. After all, Switzerland's summer climate - even sans A/C - is certainly preferable to that of DC. But I am anxious about family and how they are coping with the situation. I know that what can be done is being done, but still ....

I took heart today, however, when I noticed that one grandson, Prince J, had posted some recent photos of his latest summer baseball game on Facebook. While I haven't quite understood whether his team, quite aptly named the "Cyclones" considering the weather of the moment, actually won their game, I loved the photos so am sharing some here, beginning with a photo of the playing field, aka the "diamond," with the Maryland state colors and coat of arms. 

And here's Prince J, in his pre-game glory, with black designs under his eyes to prevent glare.

He poses again here with some fellow team members, each with a different eye design.

Here he is in action, running to prevent a bunt from turning into a base hit.

Game over, the team prepares to walk off the field

and give the ritual handshake to members of the opposing team.

Summer Cyclones indeed!