To many, sunscreen smells like summer long waited for after the cold winter. And to others it’s an item they dread wearing.
Summer is generally a favorite season or the most dreaded season. It can either be filled with lake trips, pool parties, friends and a nice break after going through the school year and the end of seasonal depression but to others it's just a pause in their schedule, long awaiting the next school year hoping to get back as soon as possible, simply waiting with nothing more to do than pick up the occasional shift or sleep over.
To me sunscreen brings a mixed feeling to me. The smell of it reminds me of summer, and lake camping trips with all my friends and family, but also one particular bad lake day.
Four summers ago, right before going into middle school, I was with my best friend and her family. We were having a family lake day and we all soaked ourselves in coppertone sunscreen. About 15 minutes later after we had all gotten in the water my face started burning horribly. I thought for sure that I had been getting sunburnt and needed more sunscreen.
Applying more sunscreen made it even worse
As soon as my best friend's mom sprayed it on my face I gasped in pain and fell to the floor. I was there for about ten minutes trying to pour water on my face to get it off. It felt like my skin was about to melt off into the sand.
I tried washing it off with soap and water but once again that just made it worse. The combination of all the chemicals was not working very well and all that helped was ice cold water.
I was up there for the rest of the day, in fear that going back into the lake would cast me back into that horrible feeling that felt like fire.
After that day I've figured out thuat there's something in generic sunscreens that my skin just can't handle, I never figured out what it was or why it happened or if i was allergic to something
But this thing that brought me so much joy to use again, that smelled like summer and long days out in the sun became toxic to me. and i think that can show a way deeper meaning that I intended this to have.
Even things (including people) that you have the greatest memories with can become toxic and unbearable.
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I love the message you ended this blog on. Something as simple as sunscreen and then connecting it to a deeper meaning. Sunscreen was something I always hated putting on and due to the excitement of going into the water, I didn't even end up applying it. Although, it is important and I’m sorry that you had such a horrible experience that once gave you pleasant summer memories. Regardless, great blog Morgan! Keep it up!
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