October 9, 2014

Let me start this by saying that in Oregon we do not understand humidity. We might say, “Wow! It is humid today!”, but if lotion needs to be applied to any part of the body, humidity is not a reality.
Since we arrived back, we have experienced some of the usual humidity issues. The sheets feel damp when we lay down, the clothes don’t completely dry after hanging on the line all day, we breathe in and the air feels heavy, and the salt comes out of the shaker in chunks. Anything that is made of paper is slightly damp, and everywhere I go there is a suspicious organic smell.
Here are a few new things for me about living in humidity:
Pillows: I did not know that pillows could mold. Drool marks, sweat stains, loss of feathers I can understand, but mold on the outside; that is new to me.
Mac and Cheese: It seems that it could have a very long shelf life with dried noodles and packaged cheese, but when I went to make a box the other day, instead of tearing into the box, it kind of shredded open. That should have been the first clue. The noodles looked normal, but after cooking them for the prescribed time, putting in the milk, butter, and cheese packet, it was more like cheese mush than Kraft Mac and Cheese. The good news is that it still tasted the same!
Candy Canes: I might be the only one who still has candy canes in October, but from previous experience, the worst thing that happens after this long is that they get a little gummy and stick to the wrapper. So imagine gummy canes! They look the same, but they are more flexible than Gumby! It is just weird.
Ziplock Bags: I am taking some liberty here because I am not sure how humidity would affect Ziplock bags, but the same bags that were functioning just fine before I left have been rendered ineffective now. Two days in a row as I have planned to safely seal something into a bag, the bottom has split open. The first was some beloved peanut brittle from Oregon that I was trying to protect from the humidity- I can only guess what would happen to it- the second was cauliflower, oil, and garlic! Let’s just say that makes quite a mess.
We are adjusting back to like in warm and humid Nicaragua, and we definitely do not need lotion!
So today, we sit in the house, listening to the rain outside and the rushing creek below. It is quiet! It seems that the town sleeps when the rain comes. The attendants at the grocery store were kind enough to make sure I had umbrella coverage for the trip to the car, and we are thankful that our new car is getting a wash!