Scars and Tattoos

*Originally published on my Wordpress blog 03.20.2021

 "I don't want to die without any scars."    Chuck Palahniuk

A blogging friend of mine recently wrote about the design he has selected for his tattoo.  He seemed excited about the upcoming piece of body art and asked his audience for their thoughts on tattoos.  Did they have one?  Had they ever thought about getting one?

 

Though I went through a phase when I considered getting a tattoo, I never did and, frankly, I'm glad now that I didn't. Tattoos are permanent and that bothers me. I would have to care passionately about something to have it etched into my skin.  Everything changes so what is important now may well fade in importance as I move on through life.  Do I really want to always be reminded of who I was back then?

 

I also don't like the colors that I have seen on tattoos.  For the most part, they are creepy to me.  Perhaps that is simply related to being a little kid and noting tattoos on people (mostly men) who seemed frightening to me. The colors seem dark and haunted.

 

I will say that I do like scars. I have several and I wear them proudly. They say to me that I endured (and, in one case, survived) major pain and they mean I was, at one time, broken but now am functional (if not whole) again. Tattoos? Tattoos don't have that meaning to me. About the only tattoo that appeals to me now would be one that I would get to physically hold a loved one who has died.

 

But, that is me. Hats off to anyone who wants and gets a tattoo for their own reasons.