19 July 2023

 

A tragedy is unfolding around us as the intense heat continues with no respite or rain in sight. A survey of our olive trees confirms that most of the baby olives have died. There will be no grand harvest this year -- perhaps not any harvest at all. For a while, the forecast promised rain for Saturday, but now that has evaporated. Jonathan and I stay mostly inside in front of the fan drinking ice water with the shades drawn against the sun. The birds are more silent than they were. The news now is of emergency rooms filled with heat stroke victims and of deaths. Only the little lizards seem happy. They do not understand the gravity of the situation.