Ink
21 Nov
As she was scraping her needle over my arm, the tattoo artist asked me why I chose what I chose. I told her the long version, since we were kinda stuck there for a while, and I was sure it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing she’d ever heard. Her reaction proved me right, and I said, “Man, you must have a lot of really crazy stories about this stuff. You could write one hell of a book.” Which of course she can’t, since that’d be stealing other peoples’ stories, but still. I’ve read a lot of good horror stories about tattoos too.
There’s something about them that causes violent reactions in people. Like my brother thinks they’re gross. He says the human body is a perfect thing, and it’s impossible to improve on it, so it’s like ugly graffiti on a beautiful building. I mean, he has a point.
Intense curiosity, too, causing even the WASPiest of individuals to overcome their crushing politeness. I’ve had random middle aged dads with their kids in tow ask me on the beach what my tramp stamp says (and what language it’s in, which is always a fun conversation. It’s in Quenya, which is like… Tolkien Elf Latin). Older women in bars who catch a glimpse, relatives who roll their eyes, you know, that kind of thing. Ha!
Admiration, addiction, regret, whatever. It’s forever, and some people don’t like things that last forever. I, however, love things that last forever–or at least, as long as I will. There was a really cool article on Chris Ranier’s book about world tattoos in a recent issue of Smithsonian and the parting quote starts with: “We live in a culture where everything is disposable…”
I liked that. (Also, great article, check it out for some beautiful pictures.)
So by request, if you wanna see the new one, I’m gonna link it because tattoo pictures are really just close-ups of skin and that’s pretty gross. It’s my first tattoo for the muse, and that’s why it’s “upside down”, so I can see it. Obviously said muse is an alienated 15 year old kid, and I’d rather not forget him, especially now that I’ve pretty much outgrown whatever minimal angst I had at that age myself.
But props to Amy the awesome tattooist, who listened to me talk about my muse as if it were a living, breathing person, and never batted an eyelash.
If anyone who’s not a writer asks, though, I can always say it’s a Manic Street Preachers tattoo. I knew I wanted a muse tattoo right there for years, but it was This Joke Sport Severed that gave me the perfect word!
Plus, as a horror writer, it’s kind of fun to have that particular word across my radial artery, let’s face it.
Yep, anyone can tat a scar of sorts across the arm but it takes a master of words to get to the simpicity. Nice.
Ha! Your brother would change his mind about the human body being a perfect thing if he saw mine.
Dude! More tats!
I love it.
You know, you’re so right about people coming up and asking about tats. When I’m out at bars or whatever, sometimes men compliment the one on my back as, like, some kind of pathetic pick up line. (Which I find amusing.) And this one time at brunch two different old people complimented it, which I found sort of fascinating and amusing.
But I think it’s fun! So yes. Woo.
Alan, that was a really nice compliment, actually. Thank you!
Cate, I dunno, we’re a family full of hobbits–sort and chubby–and he still says that…
Beth, yeah the pickup line is kinda lame, but even when I was young and non-chubby I still got more older folks just being curious than that. It’s a conversation starter, anyhow
Huzzah for the tat!
Personally, I can never have one.
Long story.Gross, too.
But the radial artery…yeah. That’s the stuff.
Whoa, that single word, and its placing, it conjures so many thoughts, you know?
Aaron, at least you won’t be defiling your body like I do. Mmmmm artery tattoos…
Mike, I am so, so glad that makes sense to someone else. Man. You just made my day.
we’re a family full of hobbits
Mine too!
Seriously, though – congrats on the ink. Muses are with us forever – why shouldn’t they be memorialized in a likewise permanent fashion?
While I tend to lean more towards your brother’s POV on tattoos (even though my wife has two), that IS a very cool concept for a tat. Quite cool.
They’re forever all right. I’m not into wrestling any more, or passionate about ICP, but there’s a trace of that crazy college kid still in my skin. Viva insanity! ; )
Megh, the boy is happy. And you know what we do to make them happy.
Barry, thanks! I doubt my brother will think so, but the good news is I’m older and can still kick his ass.
Sorta.
Nat, it’s good to memorialize our madness, I completely agree. I’m not sure what it says about me that I’m still obsessed with Spider-Man and Tolkien… let’s not think about it, though.
I’m all for tatts as long as they mean something.
I don’t have one, because I haven’t found something I want to stay with me forever. But if I did, I would.
Amanda, it’s a good policy. (I seem to want everything to stay with me forever.)