The Shade Tree

Today I was able to enjoy the afternoon off of work and have lunch with some good friends. We decided since it was a beautiful day that we would go to a place that had waterfront outdoor seating. We all sat down and immediately began adjusting our seating according to where the shade was. Lunch was great with many seating adjustments to keep out of the sun. This reminds me of a few years ago when my family along with another family took a day trip to the Ft. Lauderdale air show. It was a hot May Saturday afternoon and found a perfect spot right underneath a palm tree. We called it the "shade tree" cause every passing hour, we would make "shade adjustments" to keep under the shade tree. By late afternoon we had pretty much move almost 90 degrees and was way off of our original spot. I admit, we had a blast under that shade tree and found much comic relief with every adjustment that we had to make.

The air show concluded and made our way back over to our side of the state. I remembered that evening showering and the water stung my back a bit. After getting out and drying off what I saw completely amazed me. I was lobster red! I mean really red. I couldn't believe that miss-not-care about shade or sunscreen was so red. Sad to admit, I was burned! I think I even got a little sun sick which happened time to time of my pre-melanoma days.

Looking back, I was so dumb. Tan or not tan, shade or no shade, spray tanned or no spray tan, (because I had just gotten a customized spray tan the day before the air show)always wear sunscreen! SPF 15 for daily use and SPF 30 if you are out in the sun and then re-apply every 30 minutes.

He's Alive!

On this Easter Sunday, I am reminded that the sufferings we go through on this Earth are nothing that is even remotely comparable to what Jesus Christ suffered for me. "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said." Matthew 28:6

Some of my favorite things

Some of my tan tricks....

I use Eucerin SPF 15 everyday as moisture.

I love love Jergens Natural Glow!! It also smells great.

I am learning to like Neutrogena build-a-tan. Usually after the second application, it is to dark for my fair complexion.

I really like this product if I am really self-conscious about my glow-in-the-dark legs. Use very sparingly!!! It DOES STAIN!

Taneroxia

I tanned in a tanning bed or fake baking as I loved to call it since I was 16 years old. I loved to tan. I loved the way and I looked and certainly loved the way I felt after being in the booth or bed. I wish I could explain the high I felt. Almost like endorphins after exercising. I had to be tan, that was it. Tanning was an escape or release. Release of what, I have no idea... The bottom line is I wanted to be something I was not. I'm not going to get into my past, just yet because right now I want to focus on my future. As I continue to right thoughts down and blog about them, I will open up more. For now, I want to leave you with this scripture reference that I wish I had all of those many years ago"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalms 139: 13,14.

Way to Long

It has been over a year since my last blog. Much has happened. Some for the good and some for the bad. As of today, April 17, 2011, I am going to be starting a new blog. A new focus for Words for my daughter. In September of 2010, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma. It was a very scarey time in my life as well as the lives of many around me. So, my blog is going to continue to be about Words for my daughter, only now, the words are going to be specifically designed for my daughter Shelly who is the inspiration for the blog. For now, I am going to keep my blog up. During the time, I am going to be reformating my blog as my goal is to market my blog to other cancer survivors of Melanoma. If through this blog will change the habits of one and save only one life, that is all that I can ask for. Choosing Joy, Renee