The temperature hit 87 in New Bedford today — unheard of for April. As I was leaving church this afternoon after a poetry reading, Laurie was getting into her car, which was parked right next to my car.

“So what do you think?” she said. “Is this a result of global warming?”

“Well,” I said, “I’m no climate scientist, so I don’t think I’m qualified to make a definitive statement….” I nattered on for a while.

“Oh, but with all your wisdom, you must have some opinion,” she said, smiling and interrupting me.

“Well, obviously it’s global climate change,” I said. “We don’t get days like this in April.”

“I think so, too,” she said. Then we both got into our hot cars, started up the engines, and drove off under the hot, bright April sunshine.