Granny Wears Boxers

A couple of weeks ago, I revised my appropriate air conditioning policy yet again to include anytime the heat index hits 105. It's a slippery slope. But geez, it's hot. Here it is, not yet 11:00 in the morning, and I am writing this from my air conditioned bedroom because the humidity is 84%, making the heat index 107. The day has not yet gotten into full swing, and I am already limp.

The general consensus among foreigners is that this summer has just been brutal, although there are a few people who blissfully declare this year is not as bad as the past few summers. I am really glad they are coping well, but I have proof that they are wrong. I have seen granny wearing boxers. In public.

Despite the casual beach town feeling of Mazatlan, a certain standard of decorum is maintained. Yes, pretty much anything goes on the beach, from jeans in the water to tighty whiteys. No one will say boo to you about your attire, as long as you have made some effort to cover your most modest places, even if the fabric does turn completely transparent when wet, as long as you are on the beach. But once you climb those steps and cross Avenida del Mar, full dress is appropriate.

The typical dress for a Mexican man in town is pants, shirt with an undershirt, and some type of shoe that covers the whole foot. Young women wear short skirts or painted on jeans and an air-constricting top of some kind. Mature women wear a blouse and skirt that goes a few inches below the knee, and all of it, holy God, in polyester. No wrinkles for these ladies.

But all of that has changed this summer.

At first, I was noticing men wearing A-neck white cotton undershirts as outerwear, but I could still see the outline of their tank-style undershirts below. Then footwear started turning more and more to sandals. But now, the change in attire has reached a level that I never thought I would see. I am seeing the mid thighs of women whose knees haven't seen sunlight since Eisenhower was president.

I have seen many of the over 60 women sporting t-shirts still crisp from the manufacturer's sizing. And brand new cutsie pink, plaid, drawstring shorts. As the summer has unrelentingly persisted, the stores have sold all of their stock of cotton summer attire, and I have seen some more creative solutions for finding something to cover your body that doesn't induce a heat stroke.

I almost drove off the road when I spotted an elderly woman crossing Ejercito Mexicano wearing men's Valentines boxers covered in giant red hearts. I hope she sewed up the fly first.

Comments (5)

|200.77.75.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s Nancy

I would have liked to see granny in her valentine's day boxers, that must have been hilarious. What are you wearing that you're not telling, hmmm?

In my book, this is a way hotter summer. Or hotter earlier, for sure.

I will say though that the less I let myself think about it, the better I do. And I can't ask too much from myself, I seem to get tired more easily.

We go to the US for a week next week so I will get a bit of a respite, I love to visit everyone but all in all I'd rather be here.
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jennifer - What am I wearing?

I wear as little as possible around the house. I have some old, really large cotton t-shirts that I have cut the arms and neck out of so they are now basically jersey smocks. Sometimes I sit around in my underwear. Which makes this whole cultural habit of people just stopping by and ringing the doorbell with no warning a real hassle. I have to stop and get dressed is clothes worthy of being seen by others. It takes me a long time to answer the door

I hope you have a really great trip. Bring me back a jar of cool air.
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|Registered |m-d-Y H:i:s Angel

Lol, that's funny. Just a suggestion to help folks stay cool this time of year and used for millenia by local natives is variously the aguamiel drink from the maguey plant, or homemade liquados made with fresh nopales or the cactus fruit, tunas. Something about the mucilaginous nature of these plants helps reduce body core temperature.
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jennifer

That makes sense, since mucilage helps store water, but I just can't bring myself to eat or drink those things. I don't do okra either.
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|96.51.84.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s Anonymous - re:

jennifer wrote:
That makes sense, since mucilage helps store water, but I just can't bring myself to eat or drink those things. I don't do okra either.

When in Rome...
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jennifer - re: re:

Anonymous wrote:
When in Rome...

Yes, but I don't feed Christians to the lions either
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|67.190.192.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s wolfiered1 - What did the storm bring, cooler weather I hope?

Any problems from the hurricane? You must have been freezing from the cooler weather after 105?
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jennifer

No problems from the hurricane. We got some rain and a little lightening late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning, but not as much as a typical summer storm, despite all of the dire warnings. The schools and the port were closed on Tuesday, but the day was calm and only partly cloudy. We did have a gloriously cloudy day on Wednesday. The temps were down. The heat has rebounded now, but I think it is slightly cooler. More like typical summer weather than what we have experienced so far this season.
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