Wednesday, May 30, 2007

I was born a skinny white child....

Summer is here, and I'm just waiting for the teasing to begin. The ribbing and jokes about how WHITE I am! "Don't you ever get out in the sun?" "Girl, you need a TAN!" "I think they can see you from space you're so white!" You get the gist.

I really can not tan. Not easily, anyway. However, I can burn real good. I have had some BAD sunburns in my life - sunburns that caused me to have to call in sick to my job because I couldn't put on clothes. Sunburns that were so deep they looked almost blue. Sunburns that made me physically ill. I worry now about the effects of my adolescent vanity and stupidity in the sun-worshipping department. I really don't want skin cancer. Really. Don't. And frankly, I don't care if I'm tan anymore, either. White and healthy or bronzed and cancer-ridden? I'll take my Southern magnolia skin any day, thankyouverymuch. So if you don't like the way my pasty, toothpick-skinny legs look poking out of my shorts - well, then don't look. I probably haven't shaved them in a couple of days anyway.

8 comments:

angelq said...

Hear, hear! My husband and I are contemplating investing in sunscreen stock with the newbie on the way. We both have the red-hair gene and fair skin thing going on.

My MIL uses the Jergens tinting lotion in case you ever want to add a little color.

cjm said...

Yes, and the gradual tinting stuff from Bath & Body works, gives you a little shimmer, and actually smells good. I fake it and wear lots of sunscreen. Oh, the red-haired gene...

Eddie said...

Ha! I totally hear you on the toothpick legs, BS. It stinks having doorknob knees, no?

Anna Maria Pellizzari said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anna Maria Pellizzari said...

I'm with you on the healthy white as opposed to carcinogenic brown, BS. I think we should start an anti-tanning movement and call it "Pasty is just as pretty" or something like that. Look at Nicole Kidman - she's a sunscreen freak has such gorgeous skin!

Bubba's Mom said...

It's OK - you come from a skinny-legged pasty white mother.

Tawnya Shields said...

I totally agree. I am one of those who have ancestry from northern Europe. Pale skin, blond hair, band blue eyes, a bad combo for sun worship. I still don't get it that tanning beds and frying your skin is suppose to be sexy. Skin cancer is not sexy!

Katie Lady said...

I like the Jergens stuff as well, and it doesn't seem to smell as bad as the others. And it doesn't make you look TOO tan, either.