What did I do this weekend? I burnt my skin to a crisp.

I was a bit cocky. The combination of growing up in the high altitude of the Canadian Rockies and having a naturally dark skin color, makes me think sometimes that I’m immune to the damaging effects of the sun. So on Saturday morning, after slathering on a single layer of SPF 20, I laid out by the pool and proceeded to read 200 pages of a great American classic, The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleson. It was a wonderful, engrossing book (you really should read it). And by engrossing I mean I did not move for about four hours, except to jump into the pool for a quick dip every 30 minutes.

I started getting a few stares — I just assumed that I just looked extra good in my bathing suit that day. Seriously! Not for a second did I think to myself ‘maybe my skin is turning a strange, crispy shape of crimson.’ I felt great — the sun on my skin, bottles of cool water at my side. Not a worry in the world.

When I finally went back inside, I was greeted with a look of horror from my housemate. His eyes widened to big blue Os and asked me if I wore sunscreen.

“Of course!” I hollered, as I skipped off to the bathroom to shower and admire my newly tanned skin.

I looked in the mirror to see myself a nice, shiny shade of tomatillo. Habanero salsa. My eyes and the few millimeters of skin underneath stood out like little white moons.

After a whole Sunday of slathering on tea-tree oil and aloe vera, I’ve toned down to an awkward, muddy-red color that I hope peels/wears off before I leave for vacation in two days.

I’ve made an appointment to see a dermatologist to make up for this foolish day of sun-bathing. I also bought a can of SPF 60 spray to tote along with me on vacation. This happens about once a year — I burn, and then vow never to lay in the sun again. But then the next summer comes around, and there I sprawl, open to the mercy of the sun.

What are your sun-bathing horror stories? And why are Americans so obsessed with achieving that perfect bronze in the summer?