The Argument Against Procrastination

The day was hot!  Broiling, actually.  I had fiddled away the entire morning and now I could not think of one more way to procrastinate.  I was going to have to exercise.  Since the sun was high in the sky, I snuck a peek at the thermometer,  as I ventured out into the heat.   Bad idea!  I had only been vaguely aware of a slight discomfort.  Now I had to face facts- I had waited until the hottest time of day, to take a spirited walk- 91 degrees- stupid, stupid, stupid!  But no going back, now.   My plan of attack was to ignore the obvious sizzle and think cool thoughts.   OK, that failed.  So, I decided to think of how the Dutch and the Swedes felt, as they wandered around Philadelphia, in the late 1600's.   They must have been so curious!  Curious and awestruck at the beauty, the flowers and the rivers.  The cool river!  Wouldn't it be great to be in the water, right now!   Wait- back to the Swedes and the Dutch... Imagine having to build a settlement,  plant food,  make clothing and with no blueprint to follow.  To wake up every day, not knowing what trials you would be facing,  when or what you could feed your children and where you would rest that night.   All the while, having to where clothing poorly suited for this climate.   It was hot.  The clothes were too heavy.  My clothes are too heavy.  It's too hot!   And now, it's too far to turn back.  Since I've put this much time into this ridiculous walk, I may as well finish.  Finnish- no- Swedes and Dutch!  The Finnish were in Delaware.  And I was in Berwyn.  Had the swedes and Dutch made it to Berwyn?  If they had, it was because they were looking for Handel's Ice Cream.  There it was-  an oasis of cool, creamy, frozen something!  As I approached the small building that housed that refreshing goodness, I glanced at another thermometer, nailed to a tree.  I have to stop doing that!  Now, at 95 degrees and no money to buy ice cream  (and let me make this perfectly clear, I didn't want to eat the ice cream, I wanted to jump into the tubs of ice cream!),  I knew I had to let go of the dream and keep walking.  As I did, I noticed a squirrel taking an eternal nap, by the side of the road.  No, he hadn't been hit by a car.  I'm fairly certain he died of heat exhaustion, as I surely would, soon.  How many Swedes and Dutch had suffered heat exhaustion.   Many, I'm sure, as they continued their quest for a new home, in a foreign and sometimes hostel environment.   As I walked on route 30, not unlike those who came before, I tried to concentrate on the road surface.  They were probably watching out for snakes or pitfalls in the road.    I was simply looking at the road.  It seemed to be casting off waves, leading to a huge puddle or pool.  Now,  I know this is due to refraction, an illusion, but I'd love to hop in a pool, right now.   Well, perhaps not on Lancaster Pike.   I take out my water bottle, once again.  The 1 inch of water left in the bottle, is hot.   I'm hot.  The Swedes and the Dutch are hot.  Actually, we are all sweltering.  As I head back home,  I can't shake the feeling of impending doom, that the road may heave up and explode.  I know it's a touch dramatic, but it could happen... Although the Swedes and the Dutch disagree and are now shaking their heads in disgust.   These Swedes and Dutch can be very snide!   The fact that I'm almost home does not refresh me.   I keep dragging myself forward, still convinced Armageddon is behind every tree.  I've had it with the Swedes and the Dutch.  They are constantly making disparaging comments about the size of the houses,  automobiles and garden gnomes.  They have no mirth.   I'll not mention them again.  My home comes into view.  I race down the driveway, into the air conditioned kitchen at lunge for the ice water.   It's good to be safely at home.  I was gone almost 45 minutes.   I could have died!