By the Sea

 

By the Sea

What prompted this post was a lovely two days at Pajaro Dunes with a dear friend using a condo offered by another dear friend, my old flipping partner. We ate too much, we drank too much, we talked too much - so the get-away was a success!

A day at the beach is close to perfect. My love of water, sun and sand didn’t start at the gorgeous Pacific ocean beaches, but on the tame shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because we lived across town we had to take the city bus to get to the beach. Spending almost an hour on a hot, crowded and sweaty bus made finally getting there all the more wonderful. And along with beach towels and books came lunches of tomato and lettuce sandwiches with plenty of mayo. Coolers – shmoolers. Amazing that salmonella didn’t take the weakest of us.

A major reason for teen aged girls loving the beach was the tanning results that occurred so much more easily next to a body of water. In my case it was more lobster like red. Being of German descent, tanning to a golden brown was a life time quest.

On the subject of tanning – it was of the utmost importance to have a tan for the high school prom which was held in late April. In the 1950s, strapless formals were the rage and pale, untanned shoulders were not. Not beach weather in the Wisconsin tundra. No problem, we had sun lamps! Making ultra violet rays available to teenagers, who demonstrate no restraint or common sense could be likened to letting toddlers play with razor blades. Yes, there were incidents of bad sun burns and a one time minor injury to my friends eyes.

Finally, spring has come – still not sunbathing warmth, but never under-estimate the innovative and determined mind of a 16 year old girl in pursuit of a golden tan! Here’s when the reflector was conceived. I made my own. I found two old screens, about 5’ by 2’ and one about 2’by 2’, covered them in foil and hinged then together making a 3 sided coffin. Wow, when lying inside, it actually made the low fifties temperature seem quite tropical.

Sun screen? Are you kidding?! We oiled our bodies with baby oil mixed with iodine. Applying this inside the reflector was akin to basting a chicken on the grill. I never did achieve the desired color – I think that by the time the prom was held, I was peeling from a bad sunburn.

The lights in the gym were low, and my date didn’t seem to notice my flaking skin. We danced to the strains of Harlem Nocturne. Dancing in that era was clinging to each and moving to the music. A simpler time and we were simple teenagers – not better just different.

49er's Flash:

Come on Jeb!  What's with the prostitution solicitation??  Not a question of morals as much as a question of smarts.