So the AC in my car went out last week, and it was—unpleasant. After a couple of days I got motivated and took the car in to be repaired, and after I picked it up yesterday—a couple of thousand dollars closer to poverty—I reflected on what a fucking good thing air conditioning is. When I moved to Texas in 1978 I drove a 75 Chevy Custom Deluxe pickup—a much-beloved vehicle, nicknamed “The Beast,” that had no air conditioning!
What the hell was up with that?
And the first place I lived—a beat up single-wide trailer out by the air force base—also lacked air conditioning!
I lived there through the summer of 1979! How did I even survive?
I guess I was just young and drunk and stupid and sweaty.
An additional reason to have AC in 2023 is if the stupid grid goes out. Right—if I lose power, I can go sit in my car for a bit and maybe not die immediately. So at least that’s some reassurance or something….
From my short story, “Bad Guts”