“Are you sick? Cause you look pale.”
Oh, how many times I’ve heard this. It was much more prevalent in school, when kids have no problems pointing out what they perceive to be someone’s flaws. But even as an adult, in “professional” work environments, I’ve had full-grown adults comment about the color of my skin and tell me I need to get in the tanning bed. I understand that tanning has certainly had its hey-day of popularity, and a long one at that, but I’ve never been one to follow the trend.
Here we are at the end of summer, when everyone takes their beach-burnished bodies back to work and brags about their vacations. I, meanwhile, am looking forward to winter when I’m on slightly more even ground skin tone-wise.
Yes, I’m pale. I’m aware of it.
No, I’m not sick.
Yes, you can see my veins, but people in the medical field certainly appreciate it.
No, that’s not a white shirt under my cable knit sweater. That’s my skin.
Yes, natural lighting is about as intense as it needs to get.
Yes, my skin looks the same in color as it does in black and white.
And even though there are a lot of really snappy things I could say to people who criticize my color, I usually just smile and say thank you. 🙂
Ashley O'Melia, Author 