Heat – TOpoet

It’s not the heat it’s the humiliation. I overheard someone on a cafe patio say “I’ve been prostate with the heat this summer.” I feel pretty sure he meant prostrate which means “overcome or helpless” as opposed to prostate which is a gland hidden safely up one’s ass. Though I do have to be prostrate to really enjoy the heat of that gland. But feeling that heat is not humiliating.What is humbling about this summer’s relentless sun has been the need for sunblock. I’ve general wear 100 but some days I bump that to 110. I’m not going to get into any discussion about the effectiveness of sunblocks but trust me when I tell you I burn easily with anything less than that unless I carry a tube to constantly reapply – which is too much work – you know how many table napkins it takes to degrease one’s hands? If you run into me & think I’m looking rather pale – it’s my sunblock not my natural pasty white skin tone. I’d rather look pale than deal with skin cancer. A proper coating is good for about 90 minutes in the sun before it starts to sweat off. The next level up will be clown white 🙂I’ve also added a sunblock neck & ear cover which I adapted from a baby carriage net made of a uv rated sunblock fabric. I doubled it & then added yet another middle layer of handkerchief. I can take it on & off as needed. It fits under my hat & gives me a rather desert rat look, flowing over the ears neck & shoulders. When it catches in the wind feels like having long flowing hair. The next step up would be one of those bee-keepers hats with full around the head coverage but I suspect that would be too suffocating & even more ‘odd’ for street wear. Too ‘odd’ for me.