Tattoos and you

With-in my lifetime I have seen the stigma of tattoos lessen to a point that 17 year olds are considering permantly altering their bodys appearance. Too young, in my opinion but I'm not one to judge. No longer are tattoos for inmates, saliors and creepy uncles, they have become mainstream.
They still remain intensely personal but they have (I believe) become more artistic, with artists putting needle to skin the same way artists put pen to paper.
I have two, got my first after keeping the design in my wallet for 4 years. I wanted to make sure that it was not a passing fancy. I finally bit the bullet and said, 'yes, I want this'.



The second one is equally personal to me, it is a rendition of Louise Brooks, a silent film icon.



Unlike hair dyes or facelifts, botox injections or any other thing humans do to change their outward appearence, tattoos speak to a persons soul. Its a reflection of who they are.
Does anyone else care to share their tattoos and the reason they got them?

That's good that you took your time with it Joe....there's plenty of people who don't and regret it later. And I agree...kids need to wait---you really have to 'know yourself' before commiting to something like that. Besides, now they've perfected temporary tatoos and it's tough to even tell the difference. I'll tell you, I'd freak if my kids came home with a 'real' tatoo!

I agree, I think a lot of thought should go into the decision of getting a tattoo - after all, it's going to be around for awhile. I thought about getting a tattoo when I was in college, and probably would still go through with it, if I could get over the whole needle thing

Don't like Tattoos and I don't think I will put one of these over my skin, even if people said they are "artistic". Some people saids it's O.K and everyone wears them, but I still think tattoos are a thing of sailors !

Vanesa.

Amy wrote:

That's good that you took your time with it Joe....there's plenty of people who don't and regret it later. And I agree...kids need to wait---you really have to 'know yourself' before commiting to something like that. Besides, now they've perfected temporary tatoos and it's tough to even tell the difference. I'll tell you, I'd freak if my kids came home with a 'real' tatoo!

That is so true, Amy, I wish kids would wait before slapping anything & everything on their bodies. Unfortunately after graduation Damis ended up getting tattoos. One being his initials "DC" in old English lettering on the back of his right shoulder and the other being some sort of cartoon person called "Hatchet Man" on his left arm. Stupid! But he was of age & an adult so it was his decision.

Now, I'm an adult and had decided awhile back that I wanted one. David does too, but he hasn't yet. So several years ago we went to a tattoo shop and I got the word "FEISTY" on my lower back. I thought long & hard about it so I don't regret it at all.

Misti wrote:

Amy wrote:

That's good that you took your time with it Joe....there's plenty of people who don't and regret it later. And I agree...kids need to wait---you really have to 'know yourself' before commiting to something like that. Besides, now they've perfected temporary tatoos and it's tough to even tell the difference. I'll tell you, I'd freak if my kids came home with a 'real' tatoo!

That is so true, Amy, I wish kids would wait before slapping anything & everything on their bodies. Unfortunately after graduation Damis ended up getting tattoos. One being his initials "DC" in old English lettering on the back of his right shoulder and the other being some sort of cartoon person called "Hatchet Man" on his left arm. Stupid! But he was of age & an adult so it was his decision.

Now, I'm an adult and had decided awhile back that I wanted one. David does too, but he hasn't yet. So several years ago we went to a tattoo shop and I got the word "FEISTY" on my lower back. I thought long & hard about it so I don't regret it at all.

Be honest, who else wants to see Misti's 'Feisty' tattoo?
Miss Misti, I think a name change might be in order.

I'm with Vanesa; I don't like tattoos.

All THREE of my boys have tatts.....The oldest actually has a "sleeve" on his left arm....goes from shoulder to wrist.....The middle has last name across his upper back and other tatts as well......The youngest followed and started out with "LOVE/HATE" on his wrist....When read one direction, it says LOVE, when reading the upside-down version, it says HATE. Funny *story to tell on this one......he also has gotten more since......


* When Josh was in Tech School after Basic Training.....he had an Army instructor, he and his brother are Air Force.....This instructor was fascinated with all the tattoos that so many of the students had and started inquiring about them....asking what personal meaning did they have if any and why would you do that to yourself, etc.....he got to the point of badgering the guys......Josh was really fed up with it and was ready.....When the ARMY instructor said, "So Cooper...what tattoo do I see here on you and what does it mean?" Josh held up his arm and said, "Well Sir, it says LOVE when read this way, and HATE when read this way." The instructor asked again, in a more snotty way, "and exactly what does it mean to you?" Josh looked him square in the face and said, "I LOVE the Air Force and HATE the Army!" Needless to say, this guy never bothered Josh again about his tattoo!!!!

Funny, Rhonda!

Rhonda wrote:

When read one direction, it says LOVE, when reading the upside-down version, it says LOVE.

OK, OK....I fixed it......you just have a love-love relationship with me huh Rob?!?! At least the spelling is right!!!!

Joe... I too have a tattoo that I love and it has special meaning. I
have a group of six friends that are very close. We call ourselves the
butterfly club and we have each inked ourselves with a beautiful
butterfly. Most of us have them on our shoulders. I am the blonde on the left...
[/img]

Rhonda, that's a great story!
I Love Dean, NICE!! I've heard of the Red Hat Ladies but never thought that women would ban together to get tatts. Do you guys ride motorcycles too?? :)

Misti, you really are a feisty one, aren't you my friend?! And count me in for one that wants to see! And hey, at least with the DC for Damis, it's cool because his initials (most likely!) aren't going anywhere. That hatchet character? Yeah, my guess is in about 5 (maybe 10) years he's going to regret that one.



Rhonda, that is a funny story!



Love Joe's comparison to the Butterfly Ladies and the Red Hat Ladies!! Hmm....I'm just trying to picture the two of those groups together!

(and btw Lorrie, that really IS pretty. ). And yes Joe, I can totally see Lorrie and her gang on Harleys too. :

Well i will be Honest with all of you i HATE tattoos i will never get one and i think its crazy that people get them Cause i think if people were born with a Big Snake Tattoo on there arm or any other Tattoo They would Really hate it and want it Gone. I don't Mean to offend anyone i try not to Judge people who do get tattoos I don't care what they do to there Body as long as i don't have to do something like that to my body

I dont have a tattoo that God hasn't given me....
Always said IF I get one its going to be pretty. My boys want me to get one of the Little House on the back of my thigh, just under my full moon. YA....

Gin wrote:

My boys want me to get one of the Little House on the back of my thigh, just under my full moon. YA....

Be sure to post a picture.

I don't have anything against tattoos, but I don't have any myself. The Louise Brooks one is very cool, Joe.

I could have sworn I saw Savannah and her pan here a minute ago.

Ok, I suppose I could pick up the slack:

Rob!

*sigh* Panned for mentioning Louise Brooks. Now I've seen everything.

Joe wrote:

Misti wrote:

Amy wrote:

That's good that you took your time with it Joe....there's plenty of people who don't and regret it later. And I agree...kids need to wait---you really have to 'know yourself' before commiting to something like that. Besides, now they've perfected temporary tatoos and it's tough to even tell the difference. I'll tell you, I'd freak if my kids came home with a 'real' tatoo!

That is so true, Amy, I wish kids would wait before slapping anything & everything on their bodies. Unfortunately after graduation Damis ended up getting tattoos. One being his initials "DC" in old English lettering on the back of his right shoulder and the other being some sort of cartoon person called "Hatchet Man" on his left arm. Stupid! But he was of age & an adult so it was his decision.

Now, I'm an adult and had decided awhile back that I wanted one. David does too, but he hasn't yet. So several years ago we went to a tattoo shop and I got the word "FEISTY" on my lower back. I thought long & hard about it so I don't regret it at all.

Be honest, who else wants to see Misti's 'Feisty' tattoo?
Miss Misti, I think a name change might be in order.

I'm burning to see it!

Vanesa.

Yeah Misti, we wanna see your tat.

I've got a Roadrunner on my left arm, a cross on one shoulder blade and my daughter's birth and death date on the other, along with a cross.

flatbroke wrote:

Yeah Misti, we wanna see your tat.

I've got a Roadrunner on my left arm, a cross on one shoulder blade and my daughter's birth and death date on the other, along with a cross.

Now Larry, you know you have already seen it (from MySpace) and seems you made a smart remark that it could only be one of two places... Let me go see if I can find the pic...
Tattoo

Closer view...

I love it!! Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome, Joe! Since a few asked about it I thought I would post it.