HOT TIMES AT RADIATION HIGH

The sun emits radiation. When you sit in its presence for too long and you have skin like mine, you get a sunburn.

Multiply that by, I don’t know, a jillion, and just watch what it do.

Inside, it’s burning (we hope) bad things.

Outside, it’s wreaking havoc.

My scalp (which is pretty easy to see these days) burns. My ears resemble red cauliflower left on the counter for countless days. My eyes are swollen and red. My forehead and neck are red and dry and red and dry and red and dry. And my back … well, you can see for yourself – burnt and blistering.

But when I grapple with my evolving looks, family’s there to reassure me.

“You look beautiful, honey,” laughed Jack. “Pretty enough to be on the cover of Reptile Magazine.”