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Rat-a-Tat-Tat

Every so often, when sitting on a barstool, or crouching in a yoga position, someone invariably says to me (usually in a shocked voice): "Heather!  You have a tattoo!"

My favorite thing about this exclamation is the fact that they say it as if I didn't know - somehow they believe they're illuminating for me the haunting truth that someone held me down and drove needles of ink into my body without my knowledge.

My second favorite part of this whole discussion is the fact that people continue to be shocked by it.  As though it was some hugely transgressive action that warrants a disclaimer.  For some reason, my "girl next door" Montana self is inconsistent with a simple tatt on my lower back.

For me, the tattoo is one of the least transgressive things I feel like I have ever done.  I thought it out for a long while.  Had a friend design it.  Shopped around for the best tattoo artist in SF to do it.  Took great care in healing it (unlike the 3 times I've had my navel pierced and rejected it).  There was nothing spontaneous or rash or rebellious about that choice.

To me, it's just an inked world, and these days, a tattoo is no more transgressive than an ear piercing (or 5, as the case may be).

So ink away, people.

-Heather... off to dream of anchors and hearts with arrows and the word "Mom" ...

Posted by: jboulden on 07/21/2006
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Kevin Wright  on July 21, 2006 at 10:30 AM 1
Heather, and other ladies out there. STOP screwing up your beautiful bodies with ugly tweety birds and butterflies. Or Chinese characters, or tribal symbols, or whatever. Really, there is nothing I find sexier now a days than finding a woman WITHOUT a tatoo. I live in LA where the "tramp stamp" is a requirement and lots of formerly beautiful women have "sleves" of tatoos that just look stupid. Your body is beautiful the way it came from the factory, no need to customize it. And really, no matter how cool you think it is now, it will look really stupid when you are a grandma. Thanks, and yes I have a tatoo, my girlfriend does not.
Wynn  on July 21, 2006 at 10:44 AM 2
I heard about this http://tattooswithapurpose.com/pages/5/index.htm and its a neat idea... especially for kids who are city-dwellers, festival goers, beach bums...I don't know if they are made of groovy material, but they do say that they are FDA compliant...whatever that means.
Heather Stephenson  on July 21, 2006 at 11:39 AM 3
Hey Kevin - completely respect your opinion, although I disagree. But I have a quick question on a different note: Why is it different for men/women? If you have a tattoo and haven't had it removed for the reasons you cite above, why would you think it's any different for a woman to have one?
Dina  on July 21, 2006 at 11:46 AM 4
There are so many opinions on tattooing that I guess "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Although some may find them stupid and shallow (like my husband) some people have them for very special reasons. Case in point; my 4 year old nephew asked me to tattoo a flaming corndog (yes, you read that right!...an inside joke between us.) bearing his nickname on the bun onto my inner forearm. Ridiculous request you might say but what most people don't know, as they judge and snicker at my body art, is that he had been battling a rare form of leukemia for a year and a half and was in hospice with only 2 weeks left to live. My corndog has kept me connected with my precious nephew as well as a conversation piece to share his memory. Everyone's view of tattooing is different. The most important thing is to be educated and have no judgement on others. Keep your karma clean!
Kelly Garcia  on July 21, 2006 at 02:18 PM 5
I was thrilled to receive the article about tattoos. My daughters' teacher has henna parties with her friends, and they look so beautiful. I like the option of henna for my daughters. As teenagers they want to experiment with life, and I am thrilled that there is a way to get a tattoo that doesn't have to be forever. No I don't have a tattoo, but I have thought about it many times. My sister has one, and has on occassion been unhappy with her choice of location. She is an adult now, and some jobs don't like tattoos that show. The other thought is a Jeff Foxworthy thought. How can you expect your children to listen when you say, don't do drugs, and you have a pot plant on your neck?
Dina  on July 22, 2006 at 07:19 PM 6
don't get a pot plant on yer neck...
Layla  on July 23, 2006 at 11:07 PM 7
Dina, that's a beautiful story behind your tattoo! It would be nice if more people were able to realize that not all people get tattoos to look cool or tough, and that most tattoos actually have very personal meanings to the people who have them.
Dina  on July 24, 2006 at 11:08 AM 8
Thank you, Layla. My sister kept an online journal through the entire experience and is editing it for a book to be published. She is a fantastic writer so it will be a great help for mom's dealing with their child's sickness and loss. Her and her husband both have tattoos in their son's memory. Not as cool as mine though!

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