Cursed Pale Irish Skin Problems

I talk a lot on here about how my mom’s side of the family is VERY Sicilian, and I tend to neglect talking about dad’s heritage. My grandpa on my dad’s side had the last name of MacDonald, which made our heritage mostly Scotch/Irish & German on that side of the family.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some WONDERFUL things about being Scotch/Irish including (but not limited to):

• The music. Bagpipes, fiddles, harps and lutes and everything from angry Irish drinking bands like Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphies to beautiful Celtic music from the likes of Loreena McKennett and Enya. I dare you to listen to one of the above and not stomp your feet along to a rousing good drinking song. Which brings me to…
• Guiness Stout beer, Strongbow & Magner’s Hard Cider and Jameson Whisky. Need I say more?
• CORNED BEEF Boxty. Sorry to any “Veggie Wedgies” (vegetarian/vegans) but corned beef is AMAZING!! The only thing better than corned beef is a corned beef boxty. A boxty is an Irish potato pancake that is a hashbrown/eggy pancake that’s hard to explain but OHHH SO tasty.
• Red Hair. I’m sorry, but as the rarest hair color, Ginger is my personal fav. It is also currently the most popular color of hair dye sold in the U.S., so I can’t be alone.

I think I have made it abundantly clear that there are some pretty cool things about being Irish, and that I really do appreciate that heritage. THAT BEING SAID… I’m now going to go against the Grain (There’s our Daily Post Prompt) and state the #1 Reason I HATE being Scotch/Irish:

Our painfully PASTY, PALE White Irish Skin! 

First off, it stinks to be pale in the era where, golden brown tans are beautiful, but I have LONG since realize Pasty self if physically NOT capable of tanning! Shoot, I just LOOK at the Freaking sun and I fry crispy red. It’s like I’m allergic! The morst irritating thing is that I will get a severe burn, and I swear I get WHITER afterwards.

I have had sun poisoning so many times that my doctor told me

“Meg, I can’t think of any other patient I have treated more for sun poisoning. If I didn’t know you were do everything you can to prevent it, I would refuse to treat you anymore.”

I see you rolling your eyes. Do you think I’m being dramatic (again)? Listen to this story:

Last week we brought my mom’s, Ri’s & good friend Jade’s horses to Aria’s school to interact with some extra special kiddos. We were outside for 3 1/2 hours. Only about 2 hours of that time was spent in the sun (on an old baseball diamond).

As usual, I was prepared (so that no one can lecture me for not learning lessons from past sunburns):

1. YES I was wearing Sunscreen (50 SPF Water AND SWEAT Proof to be exact)!
2. YES I was wearing a hat (AND I kept my hair down to cover my neck)!
3. YES I was in the shade every moment there were not kids outside! There was only ONE shade tree but I was under it
4. YES I reapplied the sunscreen after 2 hours (the label said it was good for 3, but I reapplied at 2)!
5. YES I was wearing a fairly light colored shirt.
6. NO I was not in, or near the water!
7. NO I am NOT on any medication that increases my sun-sensitivity!
8. H3LL NO I’m not Pregnant which also increases sun sensitivity (the WORST sun poisoning I ever had was during my first pregnancy).

And do you know what happened??? THIS:

I HATE pics of myself, but you needed to get the idea. This pic was taken by my Sadistic friend “Nini”, 5 hours after exposure to any sunshine.

What is the most IRRITATING thing? My friend Jade wore NO sunscreen, NO hat, a tank-top and stayed in the sun the ENTIRE time and do you know what happened? NOTHING!! She took one look at me and laughingly said: “Sweetie, I don’t even have a sun line or red patch!”

At least Ri had the decency to get a mild burn, but she didn’t wear ANY sunscreen and stood in the sun the ENTIRE time. And do you know what? SHE TANNED!! (Insert angry growling noises here)

Every year it’s the same thing, I wear wet-suits and surf shirts while swimming, bathe in sunscreen, sit in the shade and what do I get? CRISPY FRIED MEGGY!! Then 2 weeks later PASTY GHOSTLY Megs!

I want to be part Native American Indian!! Red hair is just NOT worth the pain!

But corned beef and Guinness? … I’ll get back to you before giving up on Irish.