When I was a small child, I sat in a doctor’s waiting room next to an elderly man with lots of tattoos. They were illegible, wrinkled and the colors had blurred. Whatever they once were was long, long gone. I realized he had probably thought they looked really cool, probably in the 1940’s. I thought, no matter how good they looked, they’d eventually look horrible. Also, I thought if I’d gotten them say a few years ago, they’d probably be Micky Mouse or Donald Duck and I’d be horrified to have them at my then current age. I never again thought about getting a tattoo.
***They were illegible, wrinkled and the colors had blurred.***
I saw the same thing in the military in 1966. Young men just in the military becoming a “man” by getting a tattoo. They were really proud of them but had to keep them covered with Vaseline for a few week till the skin healed.
After a few weeks and the skin healed, the tattoos were no longer sharp but looked out of focus.
But they were still better than the self done jobs with India Ink and a needle. Those were horrid!
Yes. My daughter wanted tattoos as a teen. I told her to go look at some old folks with aged tattoos and see if she still liked them. I reminded her that they were permanent and tastes and fashion change. Finally, I said my house.... My rules. She could do what she wanted when she moved out and supported herself. She is 33 and no tattoos....No piercings, except for earrings. I am calling this a win, for us both.
I have no tattoos, and I don’t plan to ever get one.
But, a tattoo can hold special meaning, even if it wrinkles later as a person ages.
Example: Tattoos in memory of someone special. Or, in honor of someone’s military service. Or, a patriotic symbol.