Fun in the Sun

Fun in the Sun

It was a hot spring day at Myrtle Beach. The sun was scorching hot, setting my skin to tingling. The pool sat waiting, the cool blue water promising a soothing balm to the heat. The plan for my vacation was to kick back, relax and soak up some rays. Unfortunately, my plan did not work out as well as expected.

While preparing for my relaxing day, I reached into my luggage and grabbed my sunscreen. Unfortunately, I failed to notice that the date on the lotion had expired. I grabbed my sunglasses and prepared for a day of fun in the sun. Looking back at the situation, the minute detail of checking an expiration date would have been the best choice of my life.

While the sun warmed my porcelain white skin, my only thoughts were of the magnificent tan that I would be able to show off on my return to work. I applied a bit of sunscreen and laid back on the chaise lounge for a little cat nap by the pool. Two hours later, I awoke feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I gathered my things and strolled back to the beach house.

I took a long, cool shower and prepared myself for a long awaited dinner. When stepping out of the shower, I felt a tingling sensation on my shoulders. I went to the mirror with excitement to see the beginnings of my tan to come. What I encountered at the mirror was nothing but shock and disbelief. My skin was as red as a ripe apple hanging from a tree ready for the picking!

I put on the loosest clothes that I had brought and thought of the pain to come, not the tan. My skin was burned and the pain was overwhelming, to say the least. I was in a state of panic. How could this have happened? I was only out in the sun for two hours and I had sunscreen on. I quickly tore through the room frantically looking for the bottle of sunscreen thinking that I may have just bought the wrong SPF coverage. I recovered the bottle and looked. No, the coverage was SPF 45, one of the best that I could have bought. Then, what was the problem? I searched and racked my brain for answers. I read every letter written on the bottle thinking I had misused the product. No, I followed every direction listed on the bottle. My skin was burning and turning redder by the second. What, what could it be? I then flipped the bottle upside down and realized the sunscreen had expired two years ago! What an idiot. I planned for months for this vacation down to the last