The other day I got scared. No, not because we’ve become an Obama-nation. There are plenty of other writers out there dealing with that subject. I was afraid that my favorite brand of protection had become unavailable.

Most of us in the Green Industry work outside – a lot – and skin cancer can go from a nuisance to a killer if left unchecked. OSHA may require that we grab our hard hat, safety vest, gloves, steel-toed boots, have a kick-back guard on our chainsaw, and to say our prayers before we go out into that big dangerous world (OK, I made up that last one but it’s still important), yet they have to-date been silent about the need for sunscreen.

When my friend Mike, who spends almost all of his working hours outside, told me, with a twinge of fear in his voice, that our favorite brand of SPF 50 had become MIA at China’s favorite American retailer, we both became a bit panicky.  I’m sure there is a lot of jostling and elbow-throwing for precious shelf space amongst the dozens of tanning products but we could not imagine that OUR wonderful brand (Ocean Potion SPF 50 with anti-aging) could have been eliminated without notice.

Thankfully, Mike later told me that he found it and that it might have only been temporarily AWOL due to products being branded as “seasonal” and relegated to some back corner or aisle end.  Since when is the sun a seasonal entity in Florida?

In perennially sunny locales, sunscreen should be displayed right up front between the candy bars and women’s magazines so that it can be easily found and purchased as an impulse item. Now there’s an impulse worth being … um, impulsive about: self-defense against cancer.

One of the guys I work with has had several questionable spots taken off his face, ears, head, and other exposed regions. Since then, he religiously (as a card carrying member of the “Church of the Sunscreen Slatherers”) applies his Ocean Potion every morning “just like aftershave.” We just wish it came in a more manly fragrance – count it another sacrifice we guys make for our continued good health. Up there with “eating yogurt” and “joining a pilates class.”

So before you exchange the glow of your monitor for solar radiation, go through your personal protection list as you head out the door:

• Deodorant
• Foot powder
• Breath mints
• Sunscreen

Now you’re ready to face the light of day.