I'm Talkin' Tattoos

Who knew?  Certainly not I.  Who knew that Nancy Mills would choose me, in February of this year, to join her International Blogger Team of twelve women? Who knew that I would take to blogging like the proverbial duck to water? I discovered that I like writing blog posts so much because they're relatively short, yet long enough that I can satisfyingly vent, or pack in lots of interesting facts, or ramble a bit and yet make my point.

Well, most amazing of all, who knew that my writing blog posts for Spirited Woman would lead me to a decision, for the first time in my life, about whether to get a ........ tattoo? One day recently, it occurred to me that I like blogging SO MUCH, maybe I ought to get a tiny, discreet -- how about on my right ankle? -- tattoo that proclaims "Born to Blog."

I first became aware of the beauty of tattoos about four years ago, when I went to a cousin's wedding in Iowa. Her bridesmaids wore strapless gowns, and one girl had the most gorgeous rose tattooed on her left shoulder. That rose really made her look outstanding. From then on, it's been in the back of my mind that eventually I might try a tattoo.

Have you ever considered getting a tattoo? Permanent or temporary (henna, stencil, stick-on)? One small design, or the intricate Mehndi Designs that adorn some people's arms, legs, torsos, even faces? Would you be daring enough to have a heart tattooed with "I LOVE MELVIN," knowing full well that six months from now, Melvin might be history? How about a dragon? An anchor? A lovely symbol, such as an angel, a butterfly, a fairy, a rose?

You can learn a lot about tattoos -- their history, symbolism, meaning -- at  Vanishing Tattoo. Did you know that 60 percent of North Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 have at least one tattoo? Neither did I. I found out that tattooing has been around since the Bronze Age, that the word "tattoo" is of Tahitian origin, and that many of the most elaborate tattoos are found in Maori and Borneo. Well, I'm still on the fence about whether I'll get that tiny, discreet tattoo...but I'm kind of tickled that I'm even seriously considering it.

- Linda Jay Geldens, www.LindaJayGeldens.com
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Comments

[Linda Jay Geldens]

Hi, Lori,
I'll have to think about your daughter's advice. The Pterodactyl look is not one that I would aspire to, for sure.

[Lori Marcel]

Linda,

Sage advice from my 17-year-old daugher (I am 50), Mom do not get anything with wings because when you get OLD it will look like a Teradactyl. Lori

[Linda Jay Geldens]

Thanks for your thought-provoking comments, Anna. Very interesting perspective. I'll have to research what's in the inks used in tattoos, for sure. As I say, I'm not at all certain that I'll get a tattoo -- just thinking about it.

[Anna Moss]

The more beautiful the woman, the more grieved I am to see tattoos on her flesh. When I meet a man and see tattoos, I'm either disappointed or repelled depending upon the circumstances.

Trained as an anthropologist, when I see a tattoo, my first thought is barbarian.

I would encourage you to think for yourself.

They say the inks are safe, do you really believe that?

I know tattoos are 'the thing' these days, but I'm old enough to see through those things. When have the masses EVER been right?????

As spirited women, that's something that sets us apart, or should. The world is full of non-spirited women who do not have a thought in their head. Clearly, we need some new role models.

[Linda Jay Geldens]

Kristin,

Funny story! Did you ever get a henna tattoo anyway, even if your husband didn't? I think that may be the best thing for me, to get a tattoo that isn't "forever."

[Linda Jay Geldens]

Sinead,

Thanks for your opinion against getting a tattoo. I know, to me there seem to be a lot of downsides to getting a tattoo. I will definitely think long and hard before I actually commit to doing it.

[Linda Jay Geldens]

May,

Thanks for commenting, and a great story about Jimbo! Yes, I like the Mehndi designs, too! So you must still have that tattoo; it sounds lovely. I was at that very BEA conference in L.A., I believe, and wrote about it here in a recent post called "Convention-al Wisdom."

[kristin]

I love it! Before we got married I asked my husband to get symbolic henna tatoos like they do in India (that only we would know about, like around my ankle and around his wrist) and he said "but we're not Indian" and I married him anyway...

[Sinead Hoben]

Don't do it!!!

If you must, however, maybe you should consider going for a language which is very symbolic looking, like Chinese? It looks lovely as a tattoo (my sister got a small black Chinese tattoo across the small of her back and it's much nicer than a normal English script (and no, she's not Chinese. She's Irish!)

I don't have any tattoos because I'm too scared of the pain for one thing, but also I don't like how they age. They might well look lovely on young taut skin - but in a few years it'll only keep reminding you how old your skin is getting when it's no longer so taut ;)

Anyway, just my thoughts. It's your body - decorate it however you like - but just think long term before settling on whatever you decide to go for :) :) Good Luck!

Sinead

[May Lattanzio]

A long time ago, a big guy named Jimbo rumbled into the little desert town of Acton, CA on a Harley, along with his big, tattooed wife, his young son and a lion cub. His name was Jimbo, and he offered the first tattoo free. All of Acton, which was a tiny desert village or less, bore a new tattoo - most of the men, and some of the women. Mine is small and on my hip. Size of a nickel.

When I attended BookExpo America in Los Angeles with my publisher, five or six years ago, someone was offering Mehndi designs free downstairs, and of course, because I'm a closet tattoo fancier, I got one on my hand, the twined down to cover my ring finger, right hand.

I LOVED THAT TATTOO. I've never felt so feminine. Of course, I have a longstanding India-thing going on inside my head, too - for like over 50 years. And I haven't gotten close to going yet.

I took a look at some of those Mehndi designs. Damn. At 66, why not?

Cover me in Mehndi. Better than a facelift!

[Linda Jay Geldens]

Thanks, Maureen. I'm thinking about it, for sure.

[Maureen Keyte]

Linda,
Go for it...get the tiny tattoo. I think it will look great on you!
Maureen