Well, mtmomj----your parents and my husband and I are enjoying and spoiling a granddaughter as well

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we celebrate Miranda's 4th birthday next month. It's wonderful being a grandparent and I know how happy and proud you've made them. I'd put a smiley face here but I don't know how----so

Speaking of ages this brings up another issue, if mtmonj doesn't mind me adding to her thread

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AGING and looking old

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if you want to look older than you are continue to sunbathe even if you're using sunscreen

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nothing will age your skin faster than being in the sun. Today's sunrays are not healthy. Girls and guys,too, I"m serious---stay out of the sun and if you have to be in it for any length of time wear a good sunscreen. At age 28 I was getting brown spots (melasma) on my face, went to a dermatologist who told me to use sunscreen on my face everyday under my makeup no matter what the weather was and to wear a hat while I played tennis. I've been doing that as well as using a generic antiwrinkle cream from WalMart for over 20 years. Also, I stay out of the sun--no sunbathing for me and yet, 2 years ago I had a flaky scaly (non-itching) spot on my forehead--went to the doctor and it was a precancerous skin lesion caused by the sun. I was floored. People who meet me for the first time are surprised to find out that I'm a lot older than I look. Yeah, it's great for the ego but the point that I'm making is that you've got to be careful these days. Take care of your skin---people are living a lot longer these days. Ok--I'm off the soapbox.

Great point I have not done this isn years but I am out in the sun some at ballgames and when I hang out my clothes.

Thank you for this post and for sharing your story! I was huge on the tanning scene when I was 18 til about 22 and I have stopped the past couple of years and started with the new tanning lotions, more recently the Olay tanning lotion. I love that stuff. I think that was the best thing for me because I loved the look of the tan and regular self tanners wouldn't work for me and were too time consuming...the lotions seem to work perfect, no streaks. The sun can be so harmful and hearing stories such as yours and seeing pictures of what it can actually do are sad reminders.

Thanks again for sharing!

I'm 36, but no one ever believes me. Seriously, I still get carded occasionally.

Speaking of the sun, that's one reason I think. I work full time, have a long commute and two side businesses so there is just no time to tan! I have convinced myself that darker skin is not attractive. This last summer, I didn't even bother with a Mystic tan, though I occasionally do that before a vacation.