You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read that the Texas Library Association had a calendar for next year featuring librarians with tattoos. Yes, they really do! They are raising money for the TLA Library Disaster Relief Fund … and I suppose they are also trying to change the image of librarians as the “women who wear sensible shoes.”
Take a gander at this, and tell me they didn’t succeed in busting the stereotype, so to speak! I tell you whut! If librarians work in the library dressed like this the teenage boys will be lining up at the door to check ‘em out … the books, that is.
When I was growing up, the idea was firmly implanted in my noggin that women with tattoos were of “questionable moral character.” Of course, I would never suggest that I know any librarians who fit into that category — because librarians are the people who hire me (and the Lord knows I want to work so I can eat bacon, therefore I would never insult a librarian!). The irony is that I work in libraries, and that’s why I don’t have any tattoos!
I thought that going into a school library sporting a tattoo would be the equivalent of walking into a school with a bottle of Jack Daniels in my hand and a Havana cigar clenched in my teeth. It wouldn’t set a very good example for the children. Obviously a tattoo is not a problem. Does this mean I can get a “full sleeve” tattooed on my arm?
No. Probably not. I don’t want a large tattoo, anyway. But, I have toyed with the idea of getting one. For the longest time I thought about getting a lightning bolt tattooed on my butt (don’t ask), but I haven’t because:
- A. I wouldn’t be able to see it, and I have no desire to go through the pain of a tattoo if I can’t enjoy the artwork.
- B. My body has succumbed to gravity’s influence and I don’t want my lightning bolt to accompany Thunder Thighs.
The tattoo I think I’d like is a band of Celtic Knots around my upper arm. I had a henna tattoo painted on my upper arm as a lark many years ago and liked it for the two weeks I had it before it washed away. But, would I like it enough to wear it forever? That is an important question to ask yourself before you ink.
My oldest stepson sports two tattoos (at least, that was the last count we had). One is a cartoon character he liked, and one is a phrase written in Japanese letters. My worries are:
- Will he still like that cartoon character thirty years from now — or will he be mortified by it?
- Does that lettering really say what he thinks? Or, did some twisted tattoo artist play a joke and write a disparaging comment about his stepmother? He can’t read Japanese, so how does he know?
Even my friend Thorne, who is a tattoo artist in California, will tell you that you have to “think before you ink.” Tattoos are expensive and painful to get, but even more so to have removed.
These days, at least here in Texas, there are some jobs that require you to cover your tattoos. For instance, police officers in Fort Worth must cover their visible tattoos. In winter that wouldn’t be a problem. However, trust me on this, if those officers must wear long sleeves in the Texas heat they might melt. The theory of the police department, I think, is that the tattoos can seem threatening to some people. I think they might be right.
Although our ideas about tattoos have changed, for many people a tattoo is still considered to be a mark of low taste. Many people associate tattoos with “gangs.” I’m sure I’d cringe, too, if an unsmiling, burly officer with a full sleeve tattoo stopped me for a traffic violation. I mean to say, I’d cringe anyway, but the tattoo might make me cower.
As for getting that armband with Celtic Knots — I’ll probably never do it. Despite the fact that the Texas Library Association made a calendar of librarians with tattoos, I would feel the need to cover mine in front of the children. Maybe I could wear a garter over it? Nah. Quite honestly, my “canvas” isn’t as flawless as it was years ago and it wouldn’t do the artwork justice. Besides, I scream like a banshee when I see needles coming at me!
I’ll just have to think about getting one. Maybe I should buy that calendar just to support the Disaster Relief Fund? But, I’ll have to look at it every day and remember that I’m a sissy!
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Coming from that generation where only “loose women” did certain things, I’ve always been intrigued but never got a tatto. My granddaughter has a beautiful wreath of flowers tattood around her naval. Can’t help but wonder if she will like it as much at 75 as she did at 25? Still if I were to get one them maybe a bouquet of Jonquils or leaping dolphins on a shoulder
That was a good idea for a calendar. I don’t have any tattoos, thought about getting a small dragon but I don’t really want the pain of having needles stuck into me. My little sister had a shamrock tattoo done when she was in Ireland.
It’s the pain that steers me away. Plus I have seen what tattoos look like on senior citizens and they do lose their “luster” over time.
Have you ever seen the SNL skit about tramp stamp removal? They show back tattoos that have grown with the woman, very funny.
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I have a sunflower tattoo on my ankle. It really didn’t hurt that much. I always wanted one so I finally did it. I am still glad I got it.
My 17 year old nephew got a purple cartoon dog on his arm though, and I do wonder about that. (-:
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