Hot, dry–this is the time of year locals think of as dragon season. When even the slightest of breezes blows through such heat, it really does feel like a dragon’s breath.
While the first impulse of non-locals might be to run away from such weather (and many /s/n/o/w/b/i/r/d/s/ winter visitors do), there’s something deeply compelling about it.
I’m not sure one can fully understand–or be a part of–the desert without staying with it through a few of its summers.
I actually enjoy the cold and dislike the heat. But I still await the dragon’s breath each year. It’s simple, harsh, cleansing, right. The cycle of the year wouldn’t feel complete without it, anymore than a northern year would feel complete without snowfall.