(Ch. 9 of my story of how I became deaf…)
As a high school graduation gift, Mama let me drive by myself with a girlfriend to the coast near Morro Bay to stay for a weekend on our own. It was something she and a group of 3 other girls had done when she graduated from high school 20 years before, and she spoke of it as one of the best times she’d ever had. I was excited to have the same kind of free-wheeling, girlfriend adventure. So, I called up a group of friends and tried to coordinate a last-minute get-away. Unfortunately, only one of my girlfriends could join me, but that was still fine by me.
Marie and I had been in several classes, choir, and drama productions together over the years. We made such a funny match. She was as dark as I was fair, her hair as wiry as mine was straight, and her face as thin as mine was round. We were like the sun and the moon, perfect opposites that attract. As different as we were made up on the outside, we shared a lot in common and we were clearly in sync for this trip. I couldn’t have imagined a better friend to share it with.
Soon, Marie and I were loading up my 1965 Volkswagen Bug, and heading toward the coast to flaunt and sunbathe on some sunny California strand of beach. From my car windows, we teased and flirted with the truck drivers along Hi-way 99, and sang out loud and free with the radio, while our long, feathered hair blew tangled in the wind.
Mama was not surprised to see me come home a bit sunburned from my beach excursion. Being so fair, I had always burned quite easily. I never held a tan for long. Any color I had from the sun would usually remain splotchy, and eventually peel off.
Not two weeks after I’d returned from the beach, I was back out in the sun again, lounging on a long, narrow pool raft in our doughboy pool in the backyard, floating where the light summer breeze blew me. I had slathered myself with baby oil, a tip I’d read about in one of my teen magazines, hoping to get a quicker, deeper color into my already faded skin.
Even though I knew the risks of skin cancer for fair-haired, fair-skinned people like myself, I occasionally threw caution to the wind. Being a native, blond-haired, teen-age Californian, I was determined to live up to the popular “California-Girl” image and bake until I turned a delicious, golden-brown. Besides, I was invited to join a friend’s pool party that next day, and I wanted to have some rosy color behind my white bathing suit, rather than look like a washed-out ghost.
As teenagers, we think that we are untouchable. We live precariously, take careless risks, and laugh in the face of danger, as if no harm could ever touch us. I should have learned by then, and from the many painful sunburns I had experienced over time, that you don’t play with fire, especially fire from the sun! Unsurprisingly, I ended up with a pretty nasty sunburn that afternoon, which left me feeling very uncomfortable that evening, and would play a part in the rare illness that took my hearing.
(Footnote: Don’t give up on the story yet. It has been important for me to share what life was like before I became deaf so that people understand the significant transition that occurred when I became deaf — a transformation I not only understand and accept, but also celebrate! Keep on reading! These middle chapters entitled: Deaf or Death tell the dramatic story of the illness that took my hearing. Keep reading! More coming soon…)
My name is LaRonda Zupp.
I am Deaf. Welcome to
"The Ear of My Heart."
You always keep me in suspense! I can’t wait till I get to your final chapter! Wonderful writer you are! I wish I could write like you. Thank you so much for your awesome chapters along with cool photos! I enjoy reading them – I’m very curious how you became Deaf. Thanks, Kim
Left by Kim on July 18th, 2007
Hi LaRonda,
I knew how felt with a bad sunburn. oh boy. It was so hurt when it burn up over my body. Hard time to take a bathtub or lay down. Hate it so much. One day my mama saw me with Red Lobster. She screamed at me and why you don’t put your lotion on. My skin is very very sensitive. When I walked the shopping for one hour. I realized my shoulders already sunburn. Oh boy. My sister is still dark and no plm with sunburn. Grrr at her. LOL. I had been enjoy read your blog. I always love to read about true story. Take care.
GAL
Left by Gina on July 18th, 2007
Beautiful summery story..it gives me the smiles looking back on this kind of memory with my best friends at the Atlantic Shores, the opposite side of yours, doing the same thing as you did! Looking forward to more of yours!
Hugs,
Barb
Left by Barb DiGi on July 18th, 2007
It sure does sound familiar — the baby oil! We put iodine in our’s! I am paying for it now with itchy skin and brown spots. But I enjoyed every minute of my teenage sunbathing, not to mention my then-skinny figure! ~~ Sigh ~~
Lantana
Left by Lantana on July 18th, 2007
Too much sun? Damn…. Embracing self for next chapter.
Left by drmzz on July 18th, 2007
I feel good being cooked in the sun!
Left by Lisa on July 19th, 2007
Kim,
Thank you for reading along. You’ll find the answer as you keep going. More intense chapters coming up.
Thank you for the compliment on my writing style. that is very important for me. It inspires me to keep writing more.
GAL,
I’m like you. I am fair and burn easily, but my brother and sister tan so easy! Grrrr! I just got the skin and looks from the European side of my family. They got the Portuguese skin that turn brown much easier without burns. Sigh. Keep reading….
Barb,
It’s always fun to think back in time when we did those free-wheeling kind of beach excursions with our friends. Glad this brought up memories for you too. Thank you for being a loyal reader. keep coming back. The story gets even better!
Lantana,
I’ve heard of people putting iodine in the baby oil in days gone by. It’s amazing how powerful media is. The information we were given was soooo unhealthy for us! Yikes! I now slather myself with sun block 45 + SPF!!! Sigh. Hopefully people reading this will think twice about trying to get a tan. The sun is a powerful fire! Thank you for reading along…
DRMZZ,
Thanks for staying tuned…. it’s gets more intense as you read along. You’ll be hooked!
Lisa,
I agree that it feels good to be in the sun. But whether your fair-skinned or tan easily or have a natural brown color to you, you gotta use the sunscreen. better to be healthy and alive down the road, and free of skin cancer. (People from the northwest are pretty white, so the sun is a big attraction to them. I can understand your love and draw to the warmth.
Thanks for reading everyone. Stay tuned….
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on July 19th, 2007
Hi LaRonda,
Hi again, Yeah. When I got sunburn it will take within three to five days it turn tan for short time. It came back normal fair. I did read next chapter 10 and it got me goose bump….. Ouch. I am so glad you are survived now.
Keep up good work on your Blog. Look forward more chapters. smile.
Your friend.
Left by Gina on July 19th, 2007