Hunka Hunka Sun-Burnt Love

During the summer before my junior year of high school in Burlington, Vermont, I spent a few weeks with my older sister’s family in Southern California. Like many 16-year-old boys, I secretly wished that I was a bit cooler and more confident. So one of my goals while I was away from home was to acquire a stunning tan. I wanted to possess a golden glow that, upon my return to the Green Mountain State, would make people stop and say, “That guy must be from California!” Ridiculous, I know. Anyway, I spent a lot of time outdoors during my visit and was probably well on my way to an OK tan. But remember, I was going for mind-blowing. So on a day when we went to a beach shortly before I was to head back East, I pulled out all the stops. Eschewing any sort of sunscreen, I went for a full roasting there at the ocean’s edge. And, of course, I got a sunburn that made me ill/ Paul Turner , The Slice. More here. (Old Coppertone ad)

Question: When did you last get sun-burned? How badly?