Bob Sirott's One More Thing about the heat - KMSP-TV

Bob Sirott's One More Thing about the heat

One more thing, about the hot weather.  

I was trying to remember what it was like during a heat wave when I was a kid. Most people just had fans. We had one window unit air conditioner in our second floor apartment that barely cooled a small room.  

When my dad came home he would immediately change and be walking around in his sleeveless tee shirt and boxers.  If we were lucky he'd put his pants back on and take the family to Buffalo's on Irving Park for ice cream.    

Sometimes we'd pile in the Buick for a ride to Belmont Harbor -- just sit -- cool off --look at the boats -- and have a refreshment-stand hot dog.     

Back in the neighborhood, families would spend the evening hanging out in front of their houses, sitting on front stoops. Kids would be selling Kool-Aid or just waiting for the Good Humor man.  I don't remember Harry Volkman making much of a big deal about the heat on the news.
 
I can't recall hearing any health warnings.   Maybe the reporting wasn't as sophisticated, or I was just too young to care, or maybe we just coped  better back then.