Cautionary tale

Once there was a fair haired girl who grew up on the scenic coast of Maine.  She spent an idyllic childhood out in the sun all summer, often frolicking at Goose Rocks Beach with friends whose mothers gathered their chairs in a circle to sunbathe and chat.  Through her high school and college years, she worked as the summer arts & crafts counselor for the city parks department, getting paid to make things with kids while maintaining her tan.

When not at work or the beach, she could often be found reclining in the backyard, slathered in baby oil, holding the then popular, tri-fold cardboard tanning reflector up to her chin.  (Are these in museums now?)

Fast forward 30 years.  Sun damaged skin, premature age wrinkling around eyes, basal cell carcinoma surgically removed above lip line and a lifetime of frequent, required, dermatological checkups.  I'm not yet in the habit of using a sunscreen regularly and admit that especially at this time of year, when I'm pulling out the summer clothes, I still have to resist the urge to go out and get *a little color*.

Am I sharing this so it might give some of you pause the next time you head out in the sun or, God forbid, to the tanning salon?  Sure.  But honestly, it's because in my next post I'll be telling you about a most wonderful weekend I had last summer and I don't want you wondering about my big hat.  ;-)

You're going to be so jealous!!

Comments

[molly!]

The suspense is just KILLING ME!

[Norma]

I know what you mean about the lure of getting a "little color." I spent much of my childhood being "sickly," with allergies in the day before they had non-drowsy antihistamines, and therefore I spent most of my time indoors, feeling pale and icky. Turns out it was almost like insurance in some ways, because I didn't get as much sun damage as some of my contemporaries. I'm not sure it was a fair tradeoff in terms of giving up a happy childhood, but....Anyway, about getting in the habit of regularly putting on sunscreen, if you get a regular moisturizer or makeup that has sunscreen in it, which many of them do now, (I used to use Estee Lauder, but now I use a Neutrogena brand that's much cheaper but just as nice, it seems to me) that obviates the need to a) put on another layer and b)feel greasy with sunscreen.