Despite the humidity of recent days, this has been an acceptably warm, yet dry summer. It's been nigh perfect weather for our vacationing friends – every day a sunny beach day, every evening a mild delight.

In any event, our hopes are modest: a thoroughly soaking rain for three hours between midnight and dawn three or four nights a week would do very nicely, thank you. A little less humidity during the day. And let's keep the pleasant evenings, please. That's not much to ask, is it?