🏜️Welcome to Arizona! 🏜️

The mystical land of stucco.

He..he..he… it totally sounded better in my head. Anyways…

Often queries are made as to the moral quandary that is surviving the Arizona summer. Twelve months ago, I couldn’t have answered you. I would have said water and and shade. Of course, I was also acting like a completely jackass by working on a food truck in the direct sun 10 hours a day.

This year however, I’ll just chalk it up to one word.

HIDE

Humans have evolved the ability to revert from safety for convenience.

Look. I am a chef. I am constantly standing next to/over a line that is operating multiple high capacity heat sources while wearing a fucking winter weight 3/4 sleeve jacket. (Which is usually white… *rollseyes). That being said I also have access to a walk in so overheating isn’t a thing.

I understand HOT. What I didn’t understand is intentionally standing on the surface of the sun for 10 hours because it’s part of your job. With little to no shade and still being able to function the next day.

It took one Arizona summer to find out why.

It isn’t just hot. It’s so hot that your body temperature rises so quickly, you don’t realize the sweat on your skin is causing it to burn.

Y’all, it’s clear to see.. I’m so white I could be see through. My skin DOES NOT agree with the sun. It likes the warmth, but be damned if 10 minutes and I am strawberries. Seriously.

I learned in my early high school years that tanning beds were not for me. Silky golden kissed skin that smelled like watermelon cucumber… yeah, I only wished. I didn’t understand how to appreciate my complexion back then either. All the pastel yellow.. gross.

Then, April 2022, I moved to Arizona. Forget my lifelong struggle with the sun. Let’s get a job working on food trucks and outdoor events. Yay!

After the above pictured event, I became sorely aware of my pre-existing condition. I’ve had a number of sunburns from being a daft idiot. But never had I had one on the back of my knees.

The skin behind your knees is an already sensitive place. It’s not recommended to bake it in at 112 for 9 hours. This was a whole new level of what the actual fuck.

Luckily that backpack has a camelback, which I re-learned how to use after getting heat stroke the week before.

This year, I am listening. During the day most people spend very little time outside without being under air conditioning or misting fans. There is no way to stay cool when it 102. It starts to get warm around 9am and cools around 6pm, or when the evening breeze finally kicks in. The next 4 months will be spent, indoors during peak and consuming fresh air while enjoying the striking desert sunsets and sun rises.

Welcome to the magic of Summer in AZ -🍋💋