Saturday, January 1, 2011

un-tanned

Some things I just don't get. There are complicated things that I don't get, which I don't mind so much that I don't get, because I figure that I could get those things if I ever took the time to learn them. Then there are things that everyone else seems to get that I don't get, and tanning is one of those things. More specifically, I don't get why people like going tanning and why people think tanning looks good.

When I returned to work the day after we returned home from Hawaii, several people at work made remarks about my lack of post-Hawaii expected tan, and they all seemed kinda disappointed. While we were in Hawaii some family members were sitting around discussing our laughable whiteness. It was pretty clear that we were, collectively, the palest people there and among the pale I was apparently the palest.

The thing is, I don't mind. I'm always caught somewhat off guard when someone notes how un-tanned I am. It's kind of like being told your zipper is down, only there is no way to pull it back up again and you don't particularly care that it's down in the first place. Some people tell me this like maybe I wasn't aware that I'm pale and I should do what I can to rectify the situation immediately.

I think having naturally darker skin looks fine but pale skin looks fine too. And when you are obviously genetically fair-skinned, with blonde or red hair hair and freckles, I think pale skin looks perfectly normal. Skin that is artificially darkened usually doesn't look good. When I think of tan, I think of this:


And this:

And also this:


Not so much looking "leathery" as much as looking like a basted roast turkey that is ready for carving. Sexy! I don't see the value in that.

People say "a healthy tan" which is a complete oxymoron. I suppose they think there is healthy smoking too.

I consider it a great vacation success that John and I and the girls all managed to be outside all day every day having fun but with the use of SPF 50 swim shirts and waterproof lotion, and hats sometimes, none of us got any sunburn. Or tan.

1 comment:

MommaWriter said...

I'm thrilled with any vacation where I don't get burned. Tan? I'm not even sure my skin can do that anymore! And yeah, I never really got the tanning thing either...