Snow Globe

I am my own personal snow globe. What do you mean? you might ask. I am peeling. I could do a shimmy and a great cloud will envelope me. Like a snow globe. It's quite disgusting. My back is a lovely shade of mottled brown and the rate at which the dead skin is coming off is astounding.

We went to the beach last weekend and I neglected to put sunscreen on except on my face and ears. Nothing else on my body got burnt; just my back. When we hit the beach, I wanted about 30 minutes of sunshine with no protection - you know, for the vitamin D. Then I planned to put sunscreen on. But I didn't. Why on earth not? you might ask. Yes, I know. I'm from Florida and I grew up going to the beach and I should know better. Let me tell you why: it's all A's fault. I'm talking about the two-year-old kid that belongs to us.

The minute we stepped onto the sand, A was busy. She was busy running around, running to the water, running off to play with neighboring beach-goers. She was busy wanting to go swimming and we were busy trying to keep her from drowning. I just forgot to put sunscreen on. Later on, that fact was niggling in the back of my mind in a vague way and I vaguely reasoned that the sun was drifting in and out from behind clouds and I didn't feel burnt. After all, we weren't going to be there long because the beach can tire out a toddler better than anything on earth. Well, we ended up staying a longer than I anticipated.

Imagine my pain the next day. G and I went to speak at a location and saw so many people there who love us and show their love with giant hugs and hands clapping on my back. Ow.

A toddler can make you forget something really important when you've got your mind fixed on your toddler's safety that your own protection isn't even on your radar. Lesson learned. Next time, put on sunscreen at home even if it rubs off on your clothes on way to the beach. It's better than nothing.