Get a tattoo

And I couldn’t be happier! I am so excited to say “I’ve done this” after five years of waiting. It hurt about as much as I expected, but my artist was wonderful and so receptive to everything I asked. I love it and I’m so excited to look at this piece of art for the rest of my life. :)

Appointment set for afternoon/evening of June 23. This is happening NEXT WEEK.

Emailed the artist. She’ll get back to me by the end of the week. This is happening next month.

I found a parlor and an artist that I’m feeling good about. I still want to check out the cleanliness and talk with the artist about the cost and design, but I’m thinking this will be happening either this month or next month.

I told my parents and they think I’m making a huge mistake because I want to put it in a visible place (the inside of my right forearm, just above the bend of my elbow). I plan on using makeup or sleeves to cover it up if need be. My mom’s freaked out because it’s permanent, and while I understand her concern, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for years, and I’ve finally landed on a design that I will always love.

Still, their apprehension makes me a little nervous…from what I’ve observed, tattoos have become more socially acceptable than they used to be, but am I just immersed in an artsy-culture mindset? Are people still freaked out by tattoos?

I’ve waited about a year and a half and still want the same design. I’m ready. Time to start saving and researching tattoo artists and parlors.

I don’t think I’ll be getting a tattoo in the fall…I think I might wait until my parents can tolerate the idea. I’m almost twenty-one, I’m sure I will be able to convince them next year, if not this year.

Since I’m in school and unable to support myself financially, I still occasionally have to follow orders from my parents. My dad told me that if I either got my nose pierced or got a tattoo, I would have to pay for college on my own.
While I doubt he really meant it, I don’t want to test him on it.

During the fall, however, I was talking with a friend about her tattoo; she got one that falls right within her tanline, so people don’t ever see it unless she chooses to show them. She said she loves it, and it’s been on my mind ever since.

After much deliberation (it is permanent, after all; I doubt I will be able to afford the actual tattoo for the time being, much less the removal of one), I think I have finally reached a few conclusions. I want an illustration from the Shel Silverstein book “The Missing Piece.” It’s one of my faovrite books, and there’s an illustration on one page where the little pac-man guy has a butterfly sitting on his head, and the text above him reads “and these were the best times of all.” It’s always made me remember how lovely enjoying the moment truly is. I want that picture (about the size of a quarter) and that text on a squishier portion of my hip. My only concern would be possible distortion if and when I decide to have kids…since I’ve never been pregnant nor the owner of a tattoo, I don’t know how that whole shebang goes.

I have taken a step forward, though…I’ve made plans with another tattoo-desiring friend to do the deed in the fall, so here’s hoping I don’t chicken out before then!