Saturday, January 2, 2010
8:32 PM
Tanning
Tanning was a major priority in my life every summer. In fact, I continued to tan in college and even into adulthood. When I couldn't find time to get out in the sun (my preferred way to tan) I would book a month of sessions at the local tanning booth. I was blessed with skin that tans very easily and I love the way I feel when I have a healthy dark brown glow. The only reason I don't tan today is because I've gained too much weight to feel comfortable in doing it OR wearing the kind of clothes that show it off, for that matter. But I miss it. I know all of the health risks and I do worry about them. But I've always hated my looks so much so I have always been reluctantly willing to take what I pray has been a small risk in order to get a tan because I feel so much better about myself when I'm not all pasty pale.
Growing up, I lived at the pool all day every day during the summer. I have always loved swimming more than just about any other activity in the world so I started spending my summers at the pool at a very young age. Thanks to the fact that the city built a wading pool in the park behind my house, I was allowed to go to the pool alone when I was still kindergarten age. I was there, and then later, at the big city pools, from open to close 7 days per week. Therefore, without even having to try, I got brown enough to easily pass as a full blood Indian or Mexican and I loved that. But my motto was that you could never be dark enough so I always kept up with the latest tanning techniques. Out of all the things I bought and used, these are the two most constant things I carried to the pool with me. Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil (I could tan just fine without it but I loved the way it made me smell and shine, lol) and the ever-popular reflective tanning blanket. I didn't really need either of them but having them made me feel as though I was making faster progress so I had to have them. lol I miss all those carefree days lying around the pool. I miss the sounds, the smell of the chlorine water, the smell of my tanning oil, and the relaxed feeling I always got lunging there to my heart's content. I wish so much that I had a body of which I were not ashamed today so I could spend summers at the pool with my daughters. I've learned enough about skin cancer risks that I won't let them tan that way I did, of course, but we could still have a blast out there soaking up the cool water and the rays. Maybe someday before we're officially too old, Prince Kit and I will be able to afford a pool of our own so we can make that happen without worrying what size swimsuit I have to wear.