I have always loved having a tan. I just think I look healthier. No one told me during the 1960′s and 70′s that if I continued to lie out in the sun, I would get cancer. I was told I would look like a prune, but nothing about cancer. Not that I would have listened anywho. My sister owns a suntan center in our hometown. I laid in one of her beds one time, and decided it just wasn’t for me. The radio and electric fan in the background didn’t fool me. Artificial sunlight was not my cup of tea. Besides, I saw what it did to my sister. She has really fair skin and never could tan before. She looks older than me now and looks…..leathery. My sister and I don’t talk, so I kinda like how she looks.
In high school and college we would either use baby oil or nothing on our skin. Everyone in the neighborhood laid out on their back or side porches. We would even lie out on the roof of our apartment, because we knew that the black shingles attracted the sun. My mom ordered a “space blanket” that looked like aluminum foil. This, too, was supposed to attract the sun.
Well, you live and learn. Things have a way of coming around and biting you in the butt..or in my case, my face. Several months ago, I noticed a mole that didn’t look just right. I have a lot of moles and as I age, I keep getting new, “pretty” moles. So, I made an appointment with a new dermatologist and went to see her yesterday.
Well, none of my moles were of concern. I think you could draw lines and connect some, making constellations. Not that I have ever done that. Just saying you could. I have hundreds of moles. Hundreds. I have skin tags that wrap all around my neck. I’m quite the beauty. So, I was quite happy that none concerned her. She did notice that I had a lot of scars from previous mole removals. I do. I used to go to my previous dermatologist about every 2 years to have a mole or two taken off. They just bug the hell out of me. Why do people have to have moles anywho? They are stupid.
But, then we got to my face. Seems I have a pre-cancerous place near my nose. And maybe one in my ear. Sun-kissed. Or sun-cursed. I told her I had a scaly-feeling place that wouldn’t go away. Seems that you can usually feel it before you actually see it.
I was given a prescription for a lotion. It’s a very expensive lotion. I have to put it on my face every evening for a month. I guess that if there are pre-cancerous places on my face, they will start lighting up like a red bulb on a Christmas tree. This will be fun.
Maybe I shall start wearing a burqa.
