There is another reason that I fear summer - sunburns. 

I come from a family with skin so pale that we’re almost albino.  We have exactly two skin tones – ghostly white and fiery red (after a few minutes in the sun).  Have you seen the new spf 50 sun blocks?  That’s not enough.  I’m looking forward to spf 100.  I want something that’s going to be so effective blocking the sun that it will be as if I’m going out at midnight.

I don’t want to give you the wrong impression – we’re not vampires.  We do like to go outside during daylight hours– we just can’t stay out for more than a few minutes without starting to do our boiled lobster imitations.

What I really need is a full body bathing suit – something that covers me from my ankles to my neck.  That way I wouldn’t have to worry about sunburns (and I wouldn’t have to think about the few extra pounds that I might possibly have put on last winter though I’m still not admitting to anything).  I think surfers have the right idea – this year I’m going to wear a wet suit.  Maybe I’ll even start carrying around a small surf board to complete the look. 

You can laugh now, but after you try on a few bathing suits, you might start thinking that it makes sense.  So look for me at the pool this summer.  You’ll know me – I’ll be the pale one wearing the wetsuit with a smile on my face.