This has been the rainiest summer I have ever experienced here in Toronto (or anywhere, for that matter) but I have not been unhappy about the situation.
I have become less and less inclined to want to bake in the sun. Yeah, it feels good but the risks are just too great. It is upsetting for me to see people spending hours in the sun, slowly frying and turning red. I wish someone had helped me see the folly of this pursuit when I was younger.
For the past 15 years or so I have worn sunscreen, a hat and avoided direct sun exposure, especially on my face. I try to use a natural, chemical free sunblock which contains titanium and zinc. A little sun on the body, perhaps 10 minutes a day, is good for Vitamin D. I avoid the peak hours from around 11-3, when the sun’s rays are most penetrating and seek shade the rest of the time.
In my wayward youth I spent far too much time trying to get a tan to fit in with my bronzed peers and suffered the misfortune of many, many blistering burns. The sun’s rays seem to be stronger and more penetrating than when I was growing up.
I can clearly see the resulting damage now, especially on my arms. My dad is an Irish redhead with transparent skin, worked outdoors all his life and has had bouts with skin cancer.
I am more than a little nervous about this disease, so I view a rainy summer day as a good excuse to cuddle up with a book, cook up a storm or go for a walk with an umbrella.