Everything Comes at a Price...

I've often contemplated getting a tattoo. Although it's against what my religion teaches, I've often though it would be fun to get a tattoo of some waves in some form either on my leg or my arm somewhere. The smaller the better. I had found two or three designs that I really liked at a tattoo parlor one night while my friend got her ear pierced in one of those not so normal spots. After spending a few days thinking about what it would be like and looking at pictures and reading articles I decided this would remain a fantasy for the rest of my life and just something I had pondered in my youth.

photos courtesy of: www.google.com
My reasons? When you get old it looks really stupid... all shriveled up and crappy looking. And the other reason is the pain. I hate pain. I have a hard time sitting still long enough for them to extract blood for a health exam, let alone having someone drill my arm or leg with a needle filled with ink. No no no, tattoos are just not for this chick. I'll stick with temps and henna.

I can't say the same for this guy...
Photo Courtesy of http://www.tattooblog.org/
What in the world was he thinking when he rolled out of bed that day? "Hmm... I think it'll be cool to walk around looking like a human corpse for the rest of my life! YEAH!" Oh man dude... good luck ever getting laid again. Seriously, who wants to kiss a dude that looks like the walking dead... literally! Let alone get naked with him. Apparently getting inked in strange places is all the rage though. I always thought that getting a tattoo was one of those things you did to commemorate something special or that you got a tattoo of something that you really really loved. For my friend John that's what it was. He got several tattoos for things that were dear to his heart. My friend Katherine got a tattoo of an anchor on her foot because it had special meaning to her. I know lately tattoos have become something you do when you're drunk and on Spring Break or something of the sort and all the ladies must have the tramp stamp to prove how cool they are, but I've never understood why someone would want to tattoo something hideously disturbing on their body and have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Most normal people can't afford the laser surgery that it takes to remove such regrets and so I can't comprehend the lack of thought that went into getting it put on. My thought process in this case would go something like this...

Am I still going to love this when I'm older?
If I have children someday would it be something I'd want them to see?
Would I want to hide it from ANYONE ever (parents, grandparents, teachers, lovers, etc)
How will I feel when I'm 70 and having to explain the giant wrinkled mess to my grandchildren?
Is it worth it?
So you see... it's not just my religion and belief that our bodies are sacred temples (and if someone drew all over a beautiful temple how would you feel?) that keeps me from getting inked, it's my own seriously thought through decision that I don't want to suffer the pain and agony of the needle plus I don't want to feel ridiculous for having something so permanent later in life. Think before you Ink, people.