Saturday, 27 December 2008
I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo. I’ve been thinking about it for several years now, but that’s as far as it ever gets. It sounds like a good idea in my head, and I truly envy some of the great artwork that other people have, yet I never get it done.
The first one I’d get would be a very particular thing. There’s this band I like. I take vacation time and travel to see them several days in a row. They have a glyph, their logo, of sorts, that I’d have done just below the crook of my elbow. Now, the band isn’t instantly recognizable, so the glyph is somewhat obscure, but I’ve seen other fans with the same tattoo… in the same place. Do I want to risk turning into a super-fan?
Part of my desire, and my hesitation, is that I want to be unique. However, so many people have tattoos, how unique can it be? It seems like a silly thing to get permanently attached.
My Aunt has a couple tattoos. One cluster is a set of, I think, violets. One for her mom, one for her daughter, and one for her grand-daughter. It makes perfect sense and seems like the perfect reason to me. But to me, personally, I can’t imagine doing it. While I love my mother dearly, and she means a lot to me, I don’t know that I’d want her with me 100% of the time. I’m sure the feeling is mutual.
I think that’s the main reason I don’t get a tattoo. There isn’t anything in my life that I feel so strongly about that I want it with me forever.
Sure, I know they’re not totally permanent. Tattoos can be removed if you have the money and the pain threshold. But who goes into it thinking they’ll just wipe it away when it becomes inconvenient? You go into it thinking it will be with you forever.
It’s not fear, it’s not the expense either. I can deal with both of those. So does it really just come down to ambivalence? If it’s just for the right, the high, why not sky dive, drive fast, or even just stand on the edge of a cliff?
What does that say about my life? Is it good that I don’t go into anything until I’m sure? Or is it just sad? Sad that there’s nothing I’m so passionate about that I want it etched into my body so as to declare it unto the world?
Everybody has their reason: love, lust, loss, lunacy; I’ve yet to learn mine.
- File Under: Randomness, autobiographical, branding, daring, identity, mid-life_crisis, self, story, tattoo, unique
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to be facetious (sp?) you could try a temporary tattoo from the dollar store…
to be real, you could try a temporary tattoo or draw what you want on transfer paper & put that on your arm to see what you think of it….seriously – it’s a way to ‘try it on’. you may want to talk to a tattoo artist or check out your local parlor just to get the feel for it. may help you decide. i suggest identity tattoo on 169 & 63rd ave north. i’m a big believer in getting something that means something to you personally & if that’s the glyph from your favorite band – hell – that’s what tommy lee, dave navarro, billy morrison, vince neil, travis barker,etc did -put their logo on….at least it ain’t daffy duck.
Comment by mary — Wednesday, 07 January 2009 @ 8:47 pm
That’s the thing. I can never decide if it means enough to me to get it done. Once I get to the point that I want to do it, I’ll go with a temp for a couple weeks, just to see how it goes. I’m also tempted by a steam engine (locomotive) wheel in the crook of one elbow or even a steam engine driver rod along an arm.
I haven’t talked to a tattoo artist yet because I feel like such a dork even thinking about it. It’s my hangup, I know that, but it still holds me back.
I can see it being a bigger thing to the artists in the bands, getting their logos inked. It’s a huge part of their life, their passion. If I was in a band, I’d do that too, no question.
Absolutely no cartoon characters though.
Comment by michael — Thursday, 08 January 2009 @ 9:51 am
I knew I wanted a tattoo from the time I was 19, but I was in no hurry to actually get it. I figured the spirit would hit me when it was time. When Dan & I were planning a trip for our 1-year anniversary, I knew: now is the time (I was turning 34). And the tattoo of an autumn leaf was the tattoo I wanted. It was just like a switch went on. I wouldn’t really bother until your switch gets flipped. :-)
However, I was laboring under the enormous fallacy that all tattoo artists are about the same. I went in one place, and they were annoying, so I left & went somewhere else. I really liked them & the experience. It took a long time for me to realize that the tattooing was unnecessarily heavily outlined, so it looks like someone drew the outline with a marker. So I would very seriously suggest that you find tattoos that you like, and ask people for a referral, or at least ask around for opinions.
Comment by Betsy R-K — Wednesday, 10 June 2009 @ 2:53 pm