This obsession with pearly white teeth annoys me.  Because I refuse to scrub my tiny little teeth to a brilliant white, and my mother bugs me about it.

I'm an only child. She solely focuses on me.  I'm a staunch nonconformist and commercials influence her choices.  The current trend toward lily white teeth determines her desire to see me with brilliant sparklers.

My skin is lily white, no scrubbing required. Once again, I'm out of step with the fad.  I embrace my pasty white as there is no other choice.  My skin burns. Then it becomes this mousy brown dirt color. No tan, ever.

In the 19th century, pale skin drew appreciation. In the 21st century, it earns me a trip to the dermatologist yearly for a skin cancer check.

When did our...

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