My Tattoo

For some time now I have been thinking about getting a tattoo. I like tattoo's. Or rather I should say, I like today's tattoos. Gone are the fading naked women and skeletons of the days past. (Although I know there are still plenty of those around today, they are just done better and are safer). Another thing that has changed, at least for me, is the stereotype which goes along with someone who gets a tattoo. You see them in all walks of life today. Young and old, all nationalities, men and woman, the wealthy the poor and people from all professions. So yesterday I did it. I got my tattoo. 


This was not an easy decision. Knowing I wanted one was the easy part, figuring out just what to get and where to get it on my body was the hard part. I poured over tattoo pictures online, took note of tattoos on people I saw walking down the street. I talked to my sister about it and a few close friends, one who was very much against it. I talked a great deal about it with my son Brandon and his wife Courtney who both have a couple of tattoos. And of course I talked to my husband about it. (I think he was a bit dumbfounded by the whole idea at first, as was I if I am truthful, but he warmed up to the idea and has been nothing but supportive). 


I finally settled on an herb of some kind because I love to cook and I use fresh herbs all the time. I also love to garden and have fresh herbs growing in our garden year round. Now I just had to decide what herb to get and where to get it.  


When we were in Europe I saw many beautiful tattoos on women's wrists and forearms. I liked them. In fact I had made up my mind awhile back it would be somewhere where I could see it, not on my back or hidden somewhere. So I decided to do it down by my wrist. Right or left?? It just seemed natural to do my right.


I bounced between cilantro and basil for a few months. Again pouring over pictures, looking at sketches in books and online. Cilantro is by far my favorite herb to cook with and the one I always have in my refrigerator. I use it like others use lettuce on sandwiches, I put it in everything!  I love the stuff! But basil is a close second. I thought about getting them both, but I have been told that once you have one tattoo you are likely to get another one. So I thought I would choose just one... for now. 


So yesterday Gary, Brandon and Courtney walked into the tattoo parlor with me. I talked with one of the artist, showed him my sketches and shared my ideas.  I liked that he did not try to change my mind, wanting me to make it bigger or put it further up on my arm. He suggested rather then placing it straight up and down on my arm however, I might want to curve it, that way if I do want to add to it later, that would be easy thing to do. He actually passed me off to one of the other guys in the shop, Cory, and he was great. His favorite color to do is green, and he has done lots of plants, so was very comfortable doing my little sprig of cilantro. He told me I reminded him of his mother and that he would take good care of me. And he did. 


Did it hurt?? A lot when he did the stem down toward my wrist but the rest was just slightly uncomfortable. It took just about 20 minutes and Cory talked with me the whole time, they even changed the music in the shop for me! 


Do I love it?? Well, I like it a lot. I woke up this morning and was surprised that it was still there. I can't stop looking at it and I do think it is beautiful. I am sure I will like showing it off. It scares me a bit that it is going to be there forever. But I know soon it will just become part of me and part of who I am and I will love it, just like I love myself, most of the time!