I used to think the term ‘dog days’ applied only to August, but surely this whole summer has been suitably scorching.

The ancient Egyptians told us that Sirius is the dog star, the reason we blame summer heat on dog days. Sirius is in fact the lead dog of the constellation Canis Majoris, which itself means something like ‘top dog.’ It amazes me that the term has been around so long. I would have guessed it stemmed from some folk tale of the early 20th century. Or thereabouts.

When that bright star appears in the southern skies, we can expect sweltering heat, dripping humidity, lethargy, fevers, mad dogs and mad Vineyarders. Not to mention bad luck.

The Swedes and the Finns have given the season Scandinavian names that translate to “rot,” as in “refrigerate that slab of meat.”

Unlike the ancient southern Egyptians, who had only a crocodile-filled river, we on the Island have no excuse for fevers and madness. We have beaches and swimming pools, ocean breezes, refrigerators, showers, ice machines, mini-splits, rattling old air conditioners and fans, both electric and manual, to keep us smiling.

The promising news, maybe, is that Sirius’s position continues to drift around up there, and in 10,000 years the star will rise in mid-winter.

Annabelle Brothers is home for a short couple of weeks after spending the past two months in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Despite having her backpack stolen (and losing both her computer and passport) Annabelle loved the city, the countryside, people she met and new friends she made while polishing her Spanish language skills. Her only quibble (other than being robbed) was not having gloves. It was, after all, winter. Annabelle will return to New Haven on August 12 for her junior year at Yale.

Holly Bario made it home from Sherman Oaks, Calif. last week to help her mother, Joannie Jenkinson, celebrate her 80th birthday.

Nicole Alley, her husband Arsen Hambardzumian, and their four sons have arrived home after all four boys took part in the wrestling competitions at the summer nationals in Atlantic City, N.J.

Chloe Maley has returned to Camp Jabberwocky for a couple of weeks. Jabberwocky is the nearest thing to heaven in Chloe’s world. She has been a Jabberwocky alum for  close to two decades, except for the Covid era. This year Chloe will be joined by her friend, Celeste Ewing, who is on the same camping schedule.

Happy birthday on Friday, August 1 to Ben Cabot and Dale Ferry. It is happy birthday time for Nancy Gardella on Sunday, Aug. 3. Keston Smith will celebrate Aug. 5.