The end of summer

Thierry Fivaz - Le Regard Libre N° 38

All you had to do was take the bus, the train or simply stroll through the streets to know that she had arrived. The milky scent of sunscreen and the tangy odor of perspiration left little room for doubt: its arrival was imminent. Defying all understanding, habits and statistics, April's summer temperatures, with no respect for the seasons, drove the nail into the coffin. The damage was done, and sooner than usual. There was no escaping it, and we were forced, as we are every year, to endure it: the effervescence of summer.

It never ceases to amaze me that the arrival of warmer weather can inspire such joy. For beings as sophisticated as we are to give in to such carefree abandon would almost be in poor taste. Shouldn’t happiness and joy, after all, be rooted in things deeper and more spiritual than mere weather conditions? If the melting snow can delight the deer —a promise of abundant food to come—is the joy of sunny days, which touches both the young teenager playing «beer pong» on the beach and the forty-something vegetarian sipping gin on a patio, really that primitive? Yes, certainly.

But how can we explain such inconsistency? Could it be a viral illness? Probably.

In the shadow of barbecues and young women in their prime

The virus hypothesis is further supported when we examine its symptoms. These symptoms are, in fact, particularly numerous and vary in intensity. One of the most common and easily identifiable symptoms is «happy fever,» which compels the patient—whether male or female—to strip down to the limits of propriety. Every year, those afflicted try to push the boundaries; flip-flops, tank tops, or mini-shorts—or all three together—are thus viewed as useful and appropriate remedies by the sick, even if their effectiveness remains controversial.

The second symptom—and by no means the least—is an irresistible craving for grilled meat. The patient, against all odds, will frantically search for picnic areas where they can satisfy their carnivorous urges—on this subject, researchers have noted some surprising behaviors; it seems that, depending on the individual, the craving for grilled meat replaces the craving for grilled vegetables.

Finally, the third symptom—notable for its frequency—manifests as a desire to escape, or even to run away. Patients believe that their salvation lies solely in fleeing their city, canton, or country. Eager to see the world, the destination of their exodus thus becomes the focus of their conversations. The desire to discover uncharted places where they would be the first to set foot leads these unfortunate souls to outdo one another—the moon is sometimes mentioned by the most daring and wealthy among them.

But there’s no need to panic. The virus will disappear as soon as the nights get cooler. Our ailing elders will once again remember the rules of dress, the health risks associated with too much grilled meat, and the benefits of a sedentary lifestyle; and then, just like that, that blissful happiness will fade away. Things will go back to normal. At least until December. Because winter will bring with it other ailments, such as seasonal depression, when everything seems futile and pointless. An ailment that, for some, can linger well into the season, even resisting the arrival of warmer days. Those suffering from seasonal depression will then declare that they can’t stand the hustle and bustle of summer.

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