Natural Talent

When my family moved from Albuquerque, NM to Littleton, CO in the winter of '81 I could never understand why kids would ask me if I was a Mexican.  I said yes becuase I was from New Mexico, afterall.  The same people would also ask me if my brother, Matt, was adopted.  I could never understand that either. This isn't the best family photo I have, but it's obvious that my brother, Matt, the pale-faced kid with blond hair didn't seem to match the rest of us. He wasn't adopted; my mother swears by it. 

When I got older I finally understood why people thought my family was Mexican.  We were all dark and everyone else wasn't.  Over the years I've learned to really appreciate my ability to tan easily.  I can spend hours in the sun, with or without sun block, and not burn.  I've only burned 2 or 3 times in my lifetime.  Travis, however, burns when he sits outside for 20 minutes.  Poor, poor guy. Most people ask me why I can tan so easily and the answer is simple; I have olive skin and Greek ancestors.  My Greek heritage also came with a few annoyances; I have facial hair and hips wider than Nebraska.

Before Shelby was born I secretly hoped she'd inherit my good Greek qualities; olive skin and dark hair.  When she was born I was happy to see she had a head full of dark hair, but a bit dismayed to see a pale-faced kid.  Travis called her our little vampire becuase she was so pale and had such dark hair.  Eventually, her hair lightened up to the exact shade of her dad's.  Her pale skin remains. 

A few days ago, Shelby and I were at the pool.  A girl came up to me, probably around 8 years old, and told me that my told me that my daughter and I do not have the same skin color, but that is was OK becuase not all moms match their kids.  I know I tan easier than Shelby, but I know Shelby has inherited my ability to tan.  When I took her to the pool for the first time she came home with a faint tan line and she freaked out when her dad gave her a bath later that day.  She kept asking her dad what had happened to her and he kept telling her she had tan lines.  Her tan lines are more evident now and she loves to show me them.  She thinks she still has a swimsuit on when she's in her birthday suit.  She may look just like her dad, but she tans just like me.  Love it.