The Safflower Blossoms

May 26–30, 2021; Princeton, MA, USA
Seasonal Memoir #5

The weather has taken a turn for the COLD and WET. After a day where the mercury topped 90F, and a I think I saw Dorothy thunderstorm rolled through, it’s now steadily raining with a high of 42F. Global weirding.

Of course, I knew ahead of time the exact hot → thunderstorm → rapid temperature drop → steady rain and cold sequence. I even knew the timings of each change. Why? Because so many of us seem to obsess over the weather, watching the forecasts like a Netflix series.

Reflecting on this behavior, I can’t help but think that it goes beyond simply needing the weather forecast to plan activities, or even just because one’s curious about a preview of coming meteorological attractions. It probably goes back many generations, where knowing the weather (though you had very little to go with beyond looking out over the horizon) could save your life. You didn’t get in the horse and buggy when thunderstorms were in the area, or even more consequential, staying out of the boat when seas were rough. You stayed inside when the weather was harsh so you didn’t “catch a chill” (which was also fatal back then!). This obsession with weather must be baked into our figurative DNA.

Photo Credit: Tina Richards

This got me thinking about various superstitions, which now seem downright odd, but likely have historical roots that are very much practical. Here are my favorites from a list of 50+ (I beg your forgiveness in advance for my sarcasm):

• “Don’t play with scissors.” Duh. Who in the world would find playing with scissors fun?
• “An owl in your house will bring death to a family member.” How about if you allow wild animals to live in your house, your lifestyle is probably the cause of that.
• “Wedding bells ward off evil spirits.” And, exes.
• “Pregnant women should not eat asymmetrical foods, as it will result in an ugly baby.” Umm, no comment.
• “Don’t walk backwards, as you’ll be showing the devil where you are going.” And, you’ll be letting the crazy out, too.
• “Avoid broken mirrors.” Well, yes, glass is sharp. Duh redux.
• “Don’t wear red during a storm, as it attracts lightning.” Yes, it’s not the umbrella, of course.
• “Don’t jump over a child.” Well, now you’re taking away all our fun.