Freedom Day

 July nineteenth started out much the same as yesterday, warm and sticky. We sleep with our bedroom window open (they are actually french doors) and we have a fan on. We do that year round. It isn't as wonderful as sleeping under a feather duvet on a 38 degree night, but it isn't miserable either. The low tonight will come at 4 tomorrow morning, hitting 63 degrees. The humidity is currently 73% and it will climb to the mid-nineties before daybreak. I believe the lowest it got today was 45%.

"We are in the midst of a heat wave!" the news is screaming. My weather app solemnly pronounces "Disruption due to extreme high temperatures." And of course, we are told that people are dying because of heat-related conditions. I feel profoundly sorry for them and anyone else ailing due to heat conditions. I am ailing due to heat!!!! I know I am completely unbelievable when I say I do not like the heat, and in fact it makes me sick. Yes, a woman who has lived in the Arizona desert for two thirds of her life.

This is the third day I've had a migraine, and my usual remedy doesn't work. I am certain it is heat related, perhaps dehydration or other things like air pressure. At any rate, we have three more days of these temperatures, and then it will drop down into the low seventies, with lows at night in the fifties.

I slept in very late, and then I worked on two books for our outgoing missionaries. Elder Reynoldson and Sister Jones. It is a fun little souvenir of their time in Oxford with an added touch from us. I will give them the books tomorrow.

Elder Reynoldson and Elder Bowen came by today with "departing" gifts for us from Elder Reynoldson. He brought a beautiful purple tie for SK because he knows SK loves that color. He brought a lovely watercolor print of Oxford's most identifiable icons. We will hand carry this on to the plane in a few weeks.

The central round building is called the Radcliffe Camera and is an extension of Oxford's famous library The Bodleian 

They dropped in at 1, and we sat and visited for half an hour. I realized that perhaps they hadn't eaten, so I asked if I could fix them some chicken quesadillas. I had some good Cafe Rio chicken in the freezer. I thawed it and put together some pretty good Mexican food! They ate five between quesadillas between them. They are cute and like all the elders and sisters before them serving in Oxford, we have come to love them.

After they left, I laid down for awhile, if for no other reason than to be in front of the fan. I fell asleep. SK went to the store where for 3 pounds you can buy a "meal deal." It is quite remarkable and all the missionaries and students are regular partakers of this bargain. For three pounds, you get a drink (juices and soda pop to choose from), a sandwich (about 20 varieties of fillings on wraps, sandwich bread or hero subs) and a snack/treat (there was a fantastic array from carrot sticks to Snickers Bars, to cookies, to humous and crackers). 

He purchased ten meal deals. At 6:30, we walked to Christ Church Meadow, about 3/4 of a mile from here. It is magnificent, and such a lovely walk around the meadow, at one point abutting up to the Thames River, where you almost always can see rowing crews gliding along the water on sleek canoes.

We found a lovely shaded area, spread out our picnic blanket, waited for the others to show up and had a great time sharing our meal deals and conversation. The two sisters came, Emma, Adam and Madeline (our married couple) and Emma's friend Brad. At one point Brad pulled some juggling balls out of his backpack and we found out that Adam and Sister Heder also juggle, so they had a grand time. 

Brad is showing Sister Jones how to juggle, and everyone, especially her companion Sister Heder is loving it!

We packed up and came home by nine. Adam and Madeline walked home with us and we invited them in. They stayed for a thoroughly enjoyable hour. We talked about everything. They have been married for about a year and have both just graduated from Oxford and have found jobs, Madeline an online job that she can do for now from home, and Adam a job that requires him to go into London every so often - otherwise he works from home.

And finally, today is Freedom Day! All restrictions are off....no masks.....no phone apps telling you to stay home, having as many people as you wish in your flat, or anywhere else for that matter. To our disappointment however, as yet, quarantining will remain in place for travelers from amber countries - like the U.S. When that might be lifted is anyone's guess.

News headlines drone on that it will be a mistake, that it is premature to open things up to this extent. 

I guess only time will tell.