The 2012 Tattoo

I was just having a discussion with a friend of mine on the subject of the tattoo in the year 2012. Now most of us can remember a time when having a tattoo was the sign of a rebel, a bad guy, a biker, or a girl you would not take home to mom. Then in my college years, it seemed that everyone and their brother was going out to get some ink. Grandmas were suddenly sporting brand new butterflies, frat boys all had their Greek letters and some barbed wire on their arms, and every 19 year old girl with some nerve got a fairy or a tweety bird in an unfortunate location. Now that I am a wife and a mom I wonder about the tattoo and if it has finally become an acceptable part of life today. My opinion is thus: I personally have 3 larger tattoos on my person and am planning a 3rd. They are all black and grey, have all been designed & drawn by myself and all have personal significance to myself. I love tattoos, especially on men, I find them very attractive and I don't regret any of my art. However, here is my plea to those who are going under the needle: Even as someone who has upwards of 7 hours of work on her, you would never ever know that I even have a single one. All of my art is placed so that in my day to day life as a business owner, PTO member, Soccer Coach, whatever, they are covered unless I choose to reveal them. My tattoos are an important, personal part of me, not a pubic art show. Having visible tattoos should not effect how you are viewed or treated, but lets be honest folks; the dude with the neck tat and the gal with the huge rose on her chest or the snake wound around her foot and leg are going to look a little nutty whether it is a board room or a wedding. So go forth and ink.........just think carefully before you do