No whining, it's summer!

Summer arrived on Wednesday in all its steamy glory, a three-day heat wave perfectly timed to begin on the solstice.

Immediately people began complaining about the heat and humidity, with TV newscasts filled with warnings to stay hydrated and perspiring reporters providing live reports to verify that, yes, it was hot.

This is summer; periods of oven-like temperatures interspersed with the more comfortable days typical of our temperate climate with its ocean breezes. After a winter without snow, do we really want a summer without heat? Boring. New Englanders need something to talk about, and our weather should always be near the top of the list.

And putting up with a little heat and humidity is certainly a fair trade for all that is wonderful about summer - kids running through sprinklers, boats back in the water, trips to the beach, vacations, a cold beer after mowing the lawn, Thursday concerts at Esker Point, SailFest and, this year, OpSail.

Yes, people need to use common sense. Midday jogs when the heat index is above 100 degrees and the air dirty with smog is not a good idea for most. When the heat is on we should all make sure to drink plenty of water. And check on those seniors who may out of fear not open the windows and who can fail to realize how hot it is getting.

But panic because summer is being summer, that's not necessary. In fact for hardscrabble New Englanders all the whining can be downright embarrassing.