Sun Damage

The first thing I noticed about her was that she wasn't wearing her rings.  And there wasn't a tan line.  It is the middle of August and even the fairest of the fair should have a tan line by now.  You don't have to be a sun goddess, worshipping the strongest days' rays, collecting them with the help of baby oil and a piece of tin foil to get a tan.  Around here you only have to stop long enough to take a breath, look up at the sky, hand cupped over your eyes to block the glare - and boom! - you've got a tan.

But most of us don't get the chance to stop long enough to do that.  We are driven by the needs of our children.  Driven to fulfill their athletic, creative, cultural and social desires.  Driven to keep them competitive with their peers.  Driven to drive them everywhere they need to be.

It is in the car that we mobile moms get to soak up the solar goodness that is due us.  Travel from home to vehicle is hurried and burdened with gear and final checklist go-overs.  There is no time to stop and breathe then - and there is no sun in the garage.

Pulling out into daylight, we alight on the black-top, not soft yet from over-exposure.  It has cooled overnight and forgiven the sun its Lennie Small effect:  it knows not its own strength.  And whether we are cursed or blessed with a sun-roof depends upon the time of day and the amount of travel already logged.  But through those windows the sun will pass and through the tint it will do its deed.  Over time the skin will yield and the tone will darken.  Over time one will find that they have been ever so gently kissed by the sun.  On left arm, left hand and the occasional right, if the sun roof be allowed to stay open - there is evidence that summer has arrived.  Even though the legs remain shades lighter from being tucked in the vehicle securely away from both UVA and UVB, the left arm is the evidence that summer is here.  Summer is leaving its mark.

So I looked her over for another clue.  I kept wondering why there was no tan line on her left hand.  Not, "Why no rings?"  But, "Why no tan?"  I wasn't curious as to why she wasn't wearing her rings, but rather how long had she been without them?  That answer could possibly supply me with the answer to why.  That answer could also possibly tell me why she couldn't look me in the eye when we spoke.