Tuesday, November 22, 2022

THE WAGES OF SIN

 When one is a young lad, in one's teens and twenties and even, perhaps, in one's thirties, one can be sure of one thing: he is immortal.

Nothing can touch him, right?

But then, much later, as old age works on him, the sins of his youth begin to catch up with him.

One of my sins was spending too much time in the sun without any kind of sun screen.

Back in the day we called it sun tan lotion and it didn't really offer any protection from El Sol.

Especially not for a pale-skinned youth of Norwegian ancestry.

So here is the older rascal paying for the indiscretions of his youth.




This photo was taken this morning after my latest surgery to remove a skin cancer.

This one came out of the tip of my nose.

Previous surgeries have eliminated them from over one eyebrow, from the top of one ear and from the back of one arm.

All of them have been the relatively harmless type called squamous cell carcinomas.

But one feels, as the years go on and more of these pesky things are discovered, that one's exoderm is slowly just being whittled away.

To the youth of today I can only offer the same advice I ignored back when I was "immortal": wear sun screen and avoid over-exposure.

Like that advice will be heeded.

13 comments:

  1. The young rarely listen to the voice of experience. Makes one wish to go back and do things over with the knowledge gained. Be safe.

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  2. Well we grew up in the Midwest which was under a dark cloud most of the time. Well at least along Lake Michigan. Never gave it a thought. We were so happy to have a sunny day we basked in its glory. Who knew?

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  3. Well done for getting it sorted.
    No, they won't listen

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  4. It's hard to stay out of the sun. It calls to us. It's so warm and wonderful. Years later we do pay the price. I hope all goes well for you, Catalyst.

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  5. You also appear to have a growth upon your chin and upper lip Bruce. But have no fear, such wilderness can be successfully excised by specialists known as barbers for only twenty five bucks.

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  6. My dad also had that issue but his was from fair skin plus working for the Forest Service in the summers in the backcountry. No showers, no amenities and no suntan lotion. I hope I don't deal with the same but suspect I will. I'm good now but wasn't careful as a teenager. Quelle surprise! I hope the "nose job" wasn't too extensive.

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  7. I thought maybe SWMBO gave you a little "pop" for disobedience.

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  8. At least you nose not to do it again :)

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  9. I wore sunscreen every day for the last 40 years, then covid had us all staying home so I let that slide, but if I start daily walking again, I have plenty of sunscreen handy and will be wearing it.

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  10. This is the second blog I have read today about skin cancer. I think I am getting the message to see a dermatologist! I would take back those days of sunbathing with baby oil on me if I could!

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  11. Thanks for the visit and comment on my blog post today. It’s always nice to meet a fellow blogger.

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