I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Sunscreen
“14,000 tons of sunscreen are thought to wash into the oceans each year..."
Micro Rage
Our household is in full summer mode, and I am actively embracing it, opting for afternoons sipping tea while idling over a jigsaw puzzle. I am eschewing the news, including reading up on the legislative carnage of the 88th session of the Texas Legislature, the TEA takeover of HISD, and the plethora of other atrocities currently plaguing our world. All that to say, this newsletter is both incredibly belated and lacks perspective. I could easily access rage gentle readers, and I am choosing to take a moment to fuss about something rather insignificant. This afternoon is a puzzle where one quarter are pieces of the EXACT SAME COLOR, and multiple pieces that almost fit. Though some might enjoy the unceasing trying of piece by piece, I prefer a thoughtful puzzle with small, almost imperceptible clues in each one, much like the British cozy mysteries I’ve also been devouring. If you are stuck in the world of actual issues of significance, might I suggest a few minutes drinking tea over a jigsaw puzzle, where you repeatedly mutter, “Now, this is just bad puzzle-making.”
Macro Rage
While I did see a man cleaning his ear before he tried to pass me a flier, I would imagine that most people would not haul their deodorant to apply at the beach. However, it has been my observation that every single individual schleps their stuff to a particular spot, plops it down, and immediately begins spraying their sunscreen into the wind, or smearing one hand across their torso before immediately running into the ocean, to be washed off and kill the coral. Every. Single. Time. Nobody is doing that alongside applying their vitamin C serum. Just yesterday afternoon, a man that was dressed for dinner was awkwardly hiking his leg on the trunk of his car to slather sunscreen on his legs. It’s as if the act must exist in public to be what, documented? It always makes me think of the Black AF quote, “They’re allergic to the sun. The sun.”
My obsession with UV protective clothing started with my fair baby, and a jumper (very much resembling a hazmat suit) I bought for her from Coolibar. Since then, following both our growing interests in surfing and paddleboarding and our increasing knowledge about the harmful effects of sunscreen, our wardrobe has blossomed. You’ll almost never find us in anything less than a long-sleeve rash guard and swim tights. Oftentimes it includes more. The other day I paddle boarded in a long-sleeve sun shirt, swim tights, surf booties, fingerless gloves, lifeguard hat, and sunglasses.
I don’t begrudge anyone for wanting to flaunt their cute new swimsuit. I just think either pick the fashion or the sun protection, and please, for the love of all things holy, protect the reef (and don’t make people watch you awkwardly, and ineffectually slather on sunscreen.)
A Small Thing
A cup of tea.
A Big(ger) Thing
My favorite sun protective clothing lines are Coolibar (for the whole family), Lands End (especially for kids), and any surf company. If prAna ever makes their Aolani Swim Tight again, I’m buying two - they’re my favorite.
Swim tights! I want ‘em!