Last month I lamented the lengthy winters I live through every year, here in New Hampshire.
To summarize - I am NOT a fan of snow, cold, wind, sleet, or ice.
Not in the least.
One would assume, and we all know you're not supposed to do that because...you know(!) that I'd be a summer, sand, and beach girl.
Wrong assumption.
I grew up on a beach - literally- my parents and I lived in a three-room converted bungalow on a beach in Staten Island from the time I was 10 until I went to college. Every single day I was able to, I was out on the beach, reclining on a blanket, reading a Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew mystery. Sunscreen wasn't a thing back then. I don't even recall anything like SPF being included in bottles of Ban de Soliel, which was basically coconut oil you slathered all over you to attract the sun's rays and - hopefully - tan.
I did tan. Eventually. But I burned to a crisp first. By the time I was eighteen, I think I'd garnered two major sunburns every year of my life. Maybe more.
I remained a beachgoer all through my 20s and 30s.
I stopped worshiping sun and sand in my 40s when I had my first skin cancer removal.
Now I'm like a vampire and I shun any mention of the sun. When I do venture out it is with sunglasses and a big brimmed hat, and slathered in SPF 110 ( yes, there is such a thing). I wear long-sleeved shirts and never shorts. I wear sneakers, not thongs or flip-flops. I haven't bought or worn a bathing suit in 45 years. No lie.
I don't go to the beach. Ever. Ever.
I sit in the shade whenever I am at an outside party or event and even then I am wearing my shades and a hat.
So I need a third option, other than the two of sand or snow. I need...shade.
This month's topic, for me, is: Sun, snow, or shade?
You know my answer, LOL
7 comments:
Good answer, Peggy. I recently got a sunburn from one walk in California, so I may have to follow your lead!
Peggy, I always gravitate towards to shaded areas and when I go for a walk and the sun is shining, I wear a hat long sleeved whatever. These days I still wear a mask. I'm not good at wearing any sunscreen. I've not found one that my skin likes which is why I tend to avoid the sun as much as I can.
If we use this theme/topic/prompt again, you'll see your contribution "Snow, Sand, Shade"!
I think all of us in our youth in CA worshipped the sun or had to work out in the sun.
I've been lucky so far no skin cancer, but one pre-cancerous area on my face which was taken care of.
My husband, Carpenter and the contractor alway worked in the sun. He's had several small cancers on his face and head. And one large one on his forehead. He has to go to dermatologist every three months for a check up.
Lynn - yu and I are twinsies! I get read if I think about the sun!1
Judith - lol!! thanks for the encouragement! I tend to gravitate toward shade as a rule - even in winter.
Diana - if we knew then what we know now about sunexposure, I think many of our lives would be different.
I don’t like it too cold or too hot. I do love the beach. But I also try to stay shaded.
I always tanned easily, and used baby oil etc to tan. But similar to you, after having a few skin cancers removed, it is the shade for me most of the time!
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