111

Summer finally arrives in Long Beach. Perhaps a bit too much summer. City tied its October 15, 1961 high temperature with 111 degrees at 12:09PM on Monday, September 27th.

I was at the beach, rather sitting on bench along Ocean Blvd. the day before reading and glancing at the Umbrella Lady. It was quite hot, over 90 degrees; she had her usual two large umbrellas propped over a bench facing the ocean. A space between them giving a birds eye view of the water. She had on a dainty straw hat, maybe they are called bowlers and from what I could see a long sleeved shirt or light jacket.

Looked up from reading when I heard voices. A woman obviously just gave Umbrella Lady something. Food? Money? Bottle water? I did not see the transaction, just heard them speaking. I think the kind-hearted lady gave her a couple of brand new backpacks.

Umbrella Lady held a black bag the size of a laptop bag in front of her as if inspecting it, then picked up a blue backpack from the ground. She had several grocery store sized plastic bags hanging from her chair and on the ground tied in knots at the top around her cozy nook. She picked up the bags, and I am guessing started transferring contents of bags to the backpack.

I was not at an angle where I could actually she what she was doing, other than leaning to her left to pick up the bags.

The Press-Telegram link for Long Beach Cooling Places did not work. Libraries closed on Mondays, not many places for homeless people to go to get out of the scorching heat. I stayed indoor, and first time, ever my apartment got uncomfortably hot.