Here comes the sun

I’ve lived most of my life in the Central Valley, as a child in Fresno and as an adult in Chico. Out of necessity—and because of what happened to my father—I’ve developed a healthy respect for the sun.

My father was an avid golfer. He started playing at age 11, when he got a job as a caddy at the local golf course. This was long before the general public understood what overexposure to the sun could do to one’s skin. Sunscreen didn’t exist, and few people took care to wear a hat outdoors in summer.

Later in life my father wore long-sleeved shirts and a hat while golfing, but the damage had been done. At age 75, he died from melanoma.

I often tell people that the thing he loved best—golf—was the thing that killed him. But that’s not quite true. What killed him was simple ignorance of the power of the sun to unleash cancer cells under our skin.

I mention this to remind Summer Guide readers of the importance of respecting the sun when they go outdoors. As our guide shows, summer can be the best season of the year, one rich in outdoor adventures, and the sun can be a good friend, as long as we respect its power.

This is especially important for parents to keep in mind. Children are extremely vulnerable, and even a single bad sunburn can increase the chances that they will get a skin cancer later in life. Whenever they’re outdoors they should be slathered in broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours and whenever they leave the water. The same goes for adults.

Have a fun, sunburn-free summer!