Shrivel (058)

Sun is different in Michigan than it is in the Dominican Republic. I can stand to be outside for a long time at home. Down here, I feel drained and shriveled up like a raisin. Not only that, but the water makes me look like a raisin. We stand in the water holding wet Yeti cups for hours on end down here. Occasionally, to alleviate the strain on my right wrist and sensation in the five right nerve clusters, I swap the cup to my left side and hold it like a serving tray on my palm with hopes of the sun completing the raisin process.

I remember that, as a kid, I would take super long baths and let my hands get all pruny, shriveled into valleys and peaks. When exiting the tub, it physically pained me to grab the towel. I would stand up out of the bath water and shake my hands until most of the excess droplets made their way to the tub or wall surfaces. Before touching the towel, I'd grab a bottle of Vaseline brand lotion and slather my digits. This continued from about first grade through at least the end of middle school. I still carry lotion and a washcloth poolside.