Tattoos. Yes, I have them. Just some long, quick musings about body art.

What's Up with Tattoos?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, not sure why. Perhaps because the itch to ink again has struck me, or perhaps because its been a while since I've had to explain them to anyone. There are a few things I've learned about people with tattoos as I've accumulated my own over the last 3 years. I have 5 myself. Each of them was somewhat carefully thought out. To be honest, I saw, heard, read whatever I got tattooed, it ended up on there because when I saw, heard or read them, I had an overwhelming connection to whatever it is and HAD to get it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why They're Here

My tattoo philosophy is this: If you want it, get it. If you regret it, at least there's a story. Each of the 5 have been something that has struck me profoundly when I read, see or hear it, and thus, they ended up permanently inked on the surface of my skin.

I would like to say they serve as a road map to where I've been in my life, emotionally, geographically, whatever. But I'll be totally honest here, they absolutely do not. My tattoos are just something I wanted when I had the money and they happened. They're no more an indication of my journey through life than they are the coolest things on the planet. They meant something to me, I wanted them, I could pay, so I got them. I got my tattoos, not to join the club and be one of the "cool kids". I wanted them for myself and that was it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm damn proud of my tattoos. I didn't earn them or anything like that. I'm not in a gang, motorcycle club or prison where your tattoos are a visual cue to who you are and each and every one is an earned experience. I am however proud of my ink. It is a part of me, like my eyes, hair or teeth. My tattoos are a part of my appearance. In fact, I forget that they're there most of the time, they've become so ingrained into my person that I forget that there was a time when I didn't have them.

Speaking of gangs, though, tattoos are kind of like a club, if you think about it. The more you have, the more you belong, and while the membership is relatively diverse, it is also an exclusive, relatively judgmental sort of club. The people who don't have tattoos want to know all about them, the people who do have them see your tattoos, recognize you as another one, and then move on. No questions asked.

Why having Ink is Equivalent to Being with Child

To be honest, I have found that the most annoying part of having tattoos is the fact that while a lot of people will judge you for having them, your ink also seems to be an engraved invitation for people to invade your space, both  your physical and emotional . I have never had so many unwarranted experiences with people touching me (and I am NOT a toucher by nature. I don't even hug my parents unless I'm forced) as I have since I got my tattoos. The tattoo on my back is the worst. It goes across my left shoulder and I have had at least 10 different people grab the shirt I'm wearing and pull it out of the way to read it. It's kind of like being pregnant, but instead of people crowding your tummy and asking when you're due, they crowd your whole body, put their face real close and breathe all over you.

People want to "read" tattoos (I say "read" because I don't have any tattoos in English, on purpose) and ask all about them; they want to know what they mean and why I got them. Then they want to validate my choice with a hearty, "Oh, that's a good one!" or "I like that!" My internal response to this, every time that I hear it is, "I know it's a good one. I paid to have it put on my body for the rest of my life." and "Good for you, I don't remember asking how you felt about my personal choices, but I appreciate your validation of them." I don't think it gets more awkward than having your waxer ask you, mid appointment what your tattoo says. If you can think of a better one, be my guest. Can't say I've ever been more uncomfortable than in that moment though.

I don't ask people about their tattoos. I ask to see them. I don't ask what they mean, where they come from, why they chose it. I don't ask about religious significance or why they got a weed tattoo. It isn't that I don't care (ok, maybe a little...or depending on the person, a lot), but I honestly feel that my validation of your tattoo choice should not affect how you feel about what you chose.

I say all this about how tattoos are personal and that I hate the invasion of space, and then I'm going to turn around and tell you that I judge people's tattoos as well. Despite how personal they are, I look at so many people's tattoos and think, "You picked that out of a book, didn't you?" It isn't that the tattoo itself doesn't exhibit skill (although considering how many "bad tattoo" websites there are out there, you can see my assumption), but that a Bambi on your ankle or a dolphin on your ass is more likely to be a drunken Spring Break choice than it is an honest reflection of you.

Why "Thinking Out" Tattoos Isn't Always the Best Idea

My first tattoo came when I was ALMOST 19. I waited almost a year because I wanted to be sure that I did, in fact, want what I wanted. I'm now almost 22. Having thought out my first tattoo thoroughly, I can honestly say, it is the only one I would love to get rid of. It's small, on my left foot and says, "Joie de Vivre" in my ex's handwriting. We have long since stopped seeing each other, and despite still being friends, I hate the tattoo. Not passionately. I forget its there most of the time, but when I do see it, the small, awkward placement and small, awkward handwriting irk me.

I really wish that I'd started with my second tattoo or my fourth. The first one is just, meh. Unimpressive and the one I have to explain the most frequently because, despite "joie de vivre" being a pretty common expression, apparently, most Americans are much more ignorant of other cultures than I had supposed. The Hawaiian phrase on my back, yes, the Roman numerals on my forearm, understandable, the Spanish on my hip, if you're lucky enough to see, sure. But I don't even speak French, and I knew what Joie de Vivre was...as early as my late childhood. Sad day, America, sad day.

I also think that thinking about it to the point of exhaustion takes all the fun, impulsiveness, and excitement out of the tattoo. If you've thought it to death, you could also think yourself out of wanting them. Sometimes, the
go go go" thing really helps.

Just Because I have Them, doesn't mean I Love Guys with Tattoos

My tattoos don't mean that I expect the men that I'm with to also be tattooed. Mine are a part of me, they don't need to be a part of the men that I date at all for me to be interested. 

As with all things, my theory on men with tattoos is that it depends on the man. There are some guys that look really good with them, there are some guys that look ridiculous with them, some who got them just to be cool, and some who have waaaaaayyyyy too much ink. Yes, that is possible...paging Joel Madden, leg tattoos are NOT cute. 

I can honestly say, the guys that I've been the most into didn't have any tattoos at all. The tattooed ones are good for a crush, or infatuation rather, but the ones that I legitimately am interested in, want to date are the ones who haven't made the leap into tattoos yet. Not that I would dump a guy because he got a tattoo while I was with him, but I don't go out of my way to find a man with tattoos to pair myself up with. Nor do I look for men without. I just look for men that I like. Tattoos or not don't have any weight in my decision; I've just noticed a trend within my dating life that the guys I've actually been into into, they haven't had tattoos at all.