Illustrated Woman

The mailbox was bulging and the phone was ringing off the hook, reminding me that I had a milestone birthday coming up. I wanted to do something to mark the occasion. What does every newly minted senior citizen need?   A Tattoo!

Independance Seaport Museum, Philadelphia

My decision was not the result of a tequila fueled girl's night out, but rather something that I had been thinking about for a long time. Several years ago, on a trip to Northern Michigan, I tried to convince my sister and cousin that we should get matching tattoos. (Ok--that was the result of several glasses of wine). I continued to want a tattoo but that was a far as I got. Until my daughter made an appointment for a consultation to get her own tattoo. I thought, "What the hell. It's now or never."

We met with Kurt, our tattoo artist. He talked to each of us in depth. Were we sure we wanted a tattoo? Where? I choose the image of a lotus to symbolize that something beautiful could arise from all the darkness and negativity of the past year. I talked to the artist and decided to get the tattoo on the front of my shoulder, I could see it everyday but could also easily cover it up.

Finally it was T-Day. As we drove to our appointment, I thought of my father. When I had begged to get my ears pierced at 16, he had said NO. Only hussies and gypsies had pierced ears. My friends pierced their ears at slumber parties with a needle, thread and ice cubes. I begged some more. He relented, but I had to have my ears pierced by a doctor in his office. What would my Dad have thought about a tattoo? He probably would have said the only sailors and circus performers have tattoos. He would have found comfort in the fact that the tattoo parlor looked like a dentist's office and Kurt preached cleanliness and hygiene.

The procedure really didn't hurt. It just felt like I was being stung by tiny bees. Then Kurt was finished and showed me my new tattoo. When I see my tattoo I am reminded of the good things happening in my life now. 

Kurt did warn us that tattoos are addictive. I'm already thinking about what my next one.

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