The Slice: A little humidity can go a long way

Never thought I would say this.

But sometimes I miss humidity. A little moisture in the air amps up seasonal scents. It makes them more vibrant. You’re reminded, “Oh yeah, that’s what full-bodied verdant smells like.”

At least that has been my experience.

Of course, I don’t really miss high humidity. I have lived in places where summer felt like months and months of breathing steam while mummified in wet wool blankets. Never again.

Yes, it might be salubrious for skin and hair. It might make it easier to wear contact lenses. But I’ll take Spokane’s weather any day.

I feel like I need to trot out my humidity-rating cred because there are plenty of people seemingly unaware of just how dry the air is here. They’ll talk about it being oppressively humid on days that wouldn’t even make the first-round playoffs in many parts of the country.

It’s all relative, I guess. Still, once in a while there will be a hint of non-rain wetness in the atmosphere here. And at the right time of year, at the right time of day, this can make spring or summer come alive. At least as far as your nose goes.

But that’s not a small thing. You don’t have to be enthralled with every aspect of summer to agree that it might be the most evocative of seasons when it comes to outdoor aromas triggering flashbacks.

Favorite email subject line of the spring: “big fat little bighorn wedding.”

It was from a friend who lived in Hardin, Mont., as a newlywed. He didn’t actually get married at the battlefield. But he and his bride frequently visited after dinner, to walk and take in the vistas.

Reader challenge: Here are 15 names. Ten are characters Bing Crosby played in movies. The other five were governors of Idaho. Can you spot the governors?

1. Frank Elgin. 2. Frank Hunt. 3. Moses Alexander. 4. Johnny Adams. 5. C.K. Dexter-Haven. 6. Jim Hardy. 7. Jordan Blake. 8. Chuck O’Malley. 9. Barzilla Clark. 10. Larry Poole. 11. Dr. Leonard Cook. 12. Chase Clark. 13. Pete Garvey. 14. Duke Johnson. 15. C.A. Bottolfsen.

The answers are down below The Slice contact info.

Today’s Slice question: If you operated a business, how many warnings would new employees get about not parking in prime spots intended for customers/clients?