Although I consider some tattoo art to be very artistic and creative, and I have many friends who sport very unique designs across their body parts, I have never been a huge fan of the practice of epidermis decor. It’s not because I am afraid of needles, or that I am simply not one to indulge in elaborate displays of ornate design of any kind. (I don’t wear much jewelry or makeup and my wardrobe consists mostly of muted solid pieces.) What turns me off about tattooing is the permanence. What if I get old (yes, that will happen someday) and my parts start to sag and a smiley tattoo turns into a frowning tattoo? Or worse, it gets caught in the folds? I’ve seen this happen. As tattoos fade and tastes change, the idea of at tramp stamp imprinted during an act of liberation and rebellion is not  so sexy on a grannie.

Not everyone feels this way I realize. I have a dear friend who has beautiful tattoo designs on her arms, which are only visible when she wears a sleeveless dress, and she enjoys the ritual and process of choosing the designs. She tells me she has fond memories of each of them because they mark different periods of her life.

Fortunately, for those with regrets there is an option to choose laser tattoo removal, which I have to think is becoming a more profitable industry than the tattoo business itself. However, not getting a tattoo in the first place is a wise decision and something I am always cautioning my kids about. A nose or belly piercing can always be removed, and maroon hair can always be dyed back to its natural color, but tattoos, especially ones in prominent places, last forever. You can always change your style, the way you dress, buy a new couch,  but the tramp stamp lasts forever.