I have one which I just had redone and expanded. I love it. It reminds me of the very important things in my life.

I got hepititis from food in the US. I would NEVER go to an artist who could possibly transmit any disease via their equipment. Period. Last piercing I got done by a registered nurse for example.

They are becoming more acceptable in professional environments. I work for a fortune 200 company and there is plenty of ink sticking out of those corporate straightjackets. Ironically, though a possible majority of my IT coworkers are from India, facial piercings are a NO. On Fridays you will find many of us sneaking in our nose rings though... even managers :-) My SIL is a bank manager and has a large Bob Marley quote on her inner arm - no problems with work.

4 or 5 years ago, I said NEVER. I would never get a tatoo - EVER

3 years ago, I went on vacation with my inlaws. My niece had a pretty little one. She said she and her mom and sister all have the same tat, and did it together.

2 years ago, my daughter and I talked about it. We found a pretty design that we both really loved.

7 months ago, for my birthday, my daughter paid for her and I to get it tatooed - together. Fun day.

Last Friday, (April 27th) I went back to the artist, and she took the original design and put some extra flowers and squigglies next to it.

My tatoo is beautiful. Really, beautiful. I have no regrets. It is on my right foot, on the right side. Love where I put it. Love the design.

Will I do it again??? Probably not...... But then, never say never.


***If anyone is interested, my artist is a graduate of Conifer High. She is fabulous. I would advise anyone to put her at the top of their list.

I believe individuals are (or should be) in a constant state of personal evolution. The artwork that one fancies today will soon seem as outdated and as silly as mullets and shoulder pads. Best carry around photos that can be changed out from time to time.

When I was a kid, I was more of less taught that a guy with a tattoo was an ex-sailor who fought in WWII, got drunk one night and woke up with this purple thing forever engraved on his arm, and that he would regret it the rest of his life. If a guy had a tattoo, but was not an ex-sailor, well, he was just pretty low classed. And women never had tats back then.

At one time, a man worked for me, who happened to be an ex-sailor who served three years in WWII, and during that time, he went out one night, got drunk, and came back to the ship with a tat on his chest above his heart which read, “Jane, love you forever.”

“But, your wife’s name is Debbie?” I asked one day. He told me that when he came home from the war, that Jane had run off with someone else, so he married Debbie. But, he continued, every time he wanted to get intimate with Debbie, he had to place tape over his tat so she wouldn’t think about it.

Things change in life, but you can’t change a tattoo that at the time seemed like a great idea.

Drunken sailors arn't tha only guys that got a tat , many yrs back, when I lived in France with tha USAF , Paris was just over one hour away, I went there with 5 of my pals , 4 of them came home with small tats ,, they was not drunk,, just plastered ..

My grandfather was a sailor in WWII. He probably got drunk several nights but never got a tattoo. His friend I met when I was young did have a tattoo. On his face; to scare the enemy. It was done with a technique called "raking". When I saw it I knew I would be tattooed. My visible tattoos have never affected my job opportunities. When I was younger I was hired for my back, now I am hired for my brains. I did my first tattoo myself when I was thirteen, today I have 37.

I guess when you run out of space, you will not get more.

But, isn't that self mutilation?

I have no problem with tattoos or piercings, just never felt the desire for them for myself. I don't wear jewelry, either. Just my personal taste. Live and let live.

Waste of money

I thought the same thing. Now I have 1 (2 if you count the update to the first) - and I am not a young woman (50 ++) when I did it and I am considered conservative............ Never say never.......

I have the Cheshire Cat on my right shoulder blade. I got him 20 years ago, and I don't think he's going out of style any time soon. I would like him touched up, though... He's a bit faded now.

I don't mind women with tattoos as long as they are spelled correctly.