Tattoo Nation

Now that summer is here so are shorts, flip flops and other assorted warm weather wardrobe. Also making its appearance is the ubiquitous tattoo.

Skin art comes in all sizes, designs and colors these days and you will find them on all sorts of people too. I remember as a kid the only people that had tattoo's were sailors and Hells Angels gang members. Now it's just as common to spy them on the biceps of middle aged folks that live in the suburbs, drive mini-vans and watch Wheel of Fortune each night!

What was once considered a accessory of the fringe society is now mainstream must have! I myself don't belong to the tattoo aficionado club  and do not intend on ever getting one, unless I become a victim of some drunken bachelorette party dare! I can barely commit to clothing that doesn't fall into the black or brown hues. The other day I agonized over buying a T-shirt for 30 minutes in the GAP. The good thing about that purchase is I can take it back and exchange it unlike being stuck with something as permanent as a tattoo!

Some of the tattoos I have seen lately are pretty strange. There was this women in the supermarket yesterday that had a picture of a baby's face ( I assume her child?) on her calve. It was creepy in way. Like having a missing kid's face on a milk carton except on your leg?!

Then there was this guy I saw on the beach that literally had a monkey on his back, tattooed that is! What a conversation piece that is! "Hey there dude, nice monkey on your back!" I don't get it, does someone just wake up one morning and say " Hey, I think I will get a tattoo of a monkey on my back today, Yeah that's a great idea!" You got to regret that choice at some level one day!?

Then I worry about what is going to become of all these tattoo's when eventually these folks become elderly. Can you just imagine the nursing home of the future?! I can hear the conversation now....."Hey Howard...what's that on your arm.. a walrus with a cello?" " No you knucklehead it's a picture of my wife playing the guitar!" Yikes! I shudder to think of an 85 year old woman with a tramp stamp, that has gone south of the boarder! None of it is going to be pretty!

I guess it's all a matter of choice and perhaps like a lot things, tattoos will become less trendy as time goes by. As for this gal I will remain a blank canvas except for age spots and spider veins that happen to appear much to my chagrin and at least I can look forward to a good laugh at my friends expense in the old ladies home one day!