We have now entered the sauna season of DC: hazy, hot, and humid. It's not the blast furnace of summer that was Tucson (where I lived for several years), but I much preferred the desert heat to the swampy stickiness here. Sweat begins to bead and trickle the second you step out the door, and a veneer of perspiration is your constant companion. Afternoon thunderstorms contribute more moisture to the already saturated air. I seldom see the neighbors out, as everyone retreats to the sanctuary of air-conditioning. Evening provides little respite from the mugginess, but does cue the mosquitos to begin their feeding frenzy.

Yet, sometimes, you catch a break and conditions are glorious - not too hot, dry, bug-free. That was the case for a recent cocktail party, so we took advantage of the weather and moved the festivities outside. I handed the revelers their drinks, then chased them out of the bar into the backyard. We carried the snacks to the patio table and surrounded it with chairs. As the sun faded to twilight, we watched the lightning bugs twinkle beneath the trees. Sitting there, chatting with friends, cold beverage in hand - that's the perfect way to celebrate summer.

h.