Tattoos seem to have become mainstream. That wasn’t really the case when I was growing up. Only bikers, rebels, and sailors had tattoos, according to my momma.
My happy dolphin.
Then, they were more crude. A good many of them were only in blue ink. There weren’t many tattoo parlours in ‘respectable’ parts of town. Matter of fact, I don’t ever remember seeing one as a kid.
But I was fascinated by them. I wanted one. My momma’s response was always “Over my dead body!” I was such the obedient daughter that I didn’t get a tattoo until my momma passed away. Even now, she’s probably looking down at me from heaven, shaking her head every time she sees them.
I’m not sure if it’s mainly the older generations that still consider tattoos not respectable or whether there are still younger folks that think they’re awful also. Personally, I think a well done tattoo, by a good artist, is a work of art.
Some are fun, like the tattoo of the laughing dolphin I have on my hip. How can anyone look at a laughing dolphin and not smile? It’s my favourite of the two I have, and it was my first. I loved it so much, I went back the very next day and got another. I got a design across my lower back, with hearts, scrolls, and a seashell. Go figure….a seashell.
This is the one my friend Wil calls my tramp stamp. It’s also the one my daddy saw the summer after my momma passed. His response was something like “Oh, lordy!” He said it was a good thing I didn’t get that done while she was still living.
I was perusing a photo collection online, title “Tattoos, what were they thinking?” In looking at some of those tattoos, I can see why people think tattoos are trash. Tattoos with misspelled words, tattoos that slightly resemble family members, just plain horrible designs. There were also tattoos of faces of many famous people. I was amused to see that quite a number of them were of the actor Christopher Walken.
My next tattoo.
Needless to say, with the two I have, and the two more I want to get, I consider a good tattoo to be body art. I see it as a way to express who you are. My tattoos are hidden, unless I want the one on my back to show. 99% of the time, it doesn’t. Even when it does, unless I’m in a bathing suit, it’s not on purpose.
What are your thoughts on tattoos?
seashell by the seashore 
I have 3 tattoo’s so far and am going already have plans on 3 more in the future. All of mine of great significance for me: Death of Mother & Father; Marriage; and a bleeding heart. I have plans for Death of my brother, skin cancer ribbon, and a profile of my pitbull. I like tattoos but not in excess. I don’t like to see crazy artwork on someone’s face. That just creeps me out 🙂 . Love the dolphin!
Thanks Bren! I keep putting off getting the other two I want. I keep promising myself once I lose a certain amount of weight, I’ll get another. So far, that hasn’t worked as well as I wanted it too!
Hi Shell,
I would never have a tattoo, but then I’m not adventurous like that. I love your dolphin tattoo.
My son came home with an earing in his ear once he was only 14. I hit the roof. I wheeled him into the bathroom before his father saw him and made him take it out. He still remembers it to this day. LOL 😉
PiP
My momma wouldn’t let us get our ears pierced either! I didn’t get mine done until my niece wanted to get hers pierced at age 10 and was scared. So she challenged me to get mine done first. But I still hardly wear earrings.
I have never liked tattoos, and a very large portion of my peer group feels the same way. It just feels entirely unnatural and a fast way to regret a decision. Of course, having tattoos is very important to many people, and I don’t think any less highly of people who do. It just isn’t a choice I would make.
I don’t think I’ll ever regret mine, but then again, no one sees them but my husband. I think that makes a difference regarding regrets.
Tattoos are trashy and I’m part of the young generation as well as a metal head but I despise tattoos they are disgusting and a huge turn off. Anyone who has one is instantly unattractive, when my wife got one it ruined the physical attraction I finally had to tell her get it removed or I will have to leave I cannot be with someone who is suddenly repulsive to me. When she left that awful night I felt like she was the most beautiful woman on earth but when she came home and I saw it I could not bring myself to touch her anymore she has ruined her beauty with the trashiest form of mutilation a person can do to themself she might as well have grown a penis on her shoulder blade because I am now repulsed by her and I want to be attracted to her but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Awww, Mark. That is so disrespectful to your marriage for your wife to do something you are totally against!!! I am so sorry that happened. I know that we are all our own person, and should be able to do what we want, but in a marriage, to do something such as that, well, it just hurts the person that that you vowed to honour. My mom was so totally against tattoos, that I didn’t get one until after she had passed away.
There are a lot of people who do think tattoos are trashy, and a lot who don’t think that. Luckily, my husband is the latter, and even has one himself. I used to think they were trashy also, until my niece got a tattoo and I saw how it looked like art. It was beautiful.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. It’s very refreshing to hear a different opinion.