Six months and two seasons apart, January and July trigger some of the same feelings in Midwesterners. While we savor the slow progression of spring and can't get enough of the sunny, cool days of autumn, we often tire of the summer heat and winter chill.
By late July, a month beyond the summer solstice, the daylight is waning but the hot, hazy weather is peaking. Looking ahead, we see the long stretch of August, offering little relief from the heat and humidity; we long for the cool, dry Canadian air of September. By late January, a month beyond the winter solstice, the days are noticeably longer. Nevertheless, we face February, with its cold, blustery days and ice storms; the balmy, fragrant days of March remain on hold.
On the other hand, when immersed in the soupy air of July, we long for the crisp feel of a mid winter day and, when bundled against the icy blasts of January, we dream of lounging in the thick, green summer grass. We are an inpatient species.
