I grew up in western Colorado where the humidity is very low. Our house didn’t have central air conditioning because it really didn’t need it. If we opened our windows at night and closed them in the morning the house stayed relatively cool. Now, being the temperature-control-freak that I am, I can understand my Dad getting upset if my window was still open at noon.
We did have a large air-conditioning unit off off the dining room. Mostly it served as a place for the family cat to sit – staring through the window, waiting for us to notice she was ready to come inside – but once in a great while we got to turn it on.
That was sheer bliss! I would stand right in front the vents, holding up my shirt to catch that chilly air, ignoring the shouts of everyone else to move so the rest of the house could cool off. I was deaf with freezing-cold joy.
Peggy says
First, that is the cutest picture ever Lauren! You could have been a child star!
When I was a kid we didn’t have air-conditioning. As much as I love air-conditioning, there really is something wonderful about a cool breeze blowing in an open window. I used to love when the curtains would go straight out over me from a strong breeze all night.
And I have to confess that I do the shirt thing now….over the vents in my office.
Gretchen says
Ah, AC. Didn’t have it growing up -- had it when we lived in MS and AR (but not living in STL -- how we survived the heat is anyone’s guess) and now we’re back to being without. But, considering it is only about 65 degrees most days, we don’t need it.
Brad says
We had window units in our house. Remembering those units brings back a crystal clear memory of coming back from visiting relatives in Nebraska, turning on the air conditioner in the dining room, and a giant spider being blown out of the vents. Now whenever I turn on any window unit, I make sure to stand away from the vents so spiders can blow past.
Beth says
I remember the window unit. And wishing I could sleep in the dining room because it was so cool.
And I remember we got central air in 1980? 81? I remember being able to leave our hand print in the freshly poured concrete around the unit in the cellar. And then being able to write our names next to our print.
Then I remember Brent yelling at me because I printed my name too big.
Deborah says
I can remember sitting in the “cool chair” in Corpus Christi, TX when I was about 3 years old. The chair was right next to the window unit. If you moved out of the chair, you immediately started sweating.