No one had to convince me to get a tattoo because, well, I have wanted one for as long as I can remember. But, over the years, I have convinced two friends to get tattoos. So, I asked them recently, how did you let me talk you into getting a tattoo?
Friend #1 – The week I returned home after law school, I wanted to get a tattoo to commemorate the occasion. This was tattoo #2 and I had such a great experience with tattoo #1, I wanted to share this one with someone. Cue my work friend that had turned into one of my closest friends. It really didn’t take much convincing, but I recall before this occasion we had never had one conversation about tattoos prior to this day. So, how did I convince her? She said I was so excited about sharing the experience with her she didn’t have the heart to say no she didn’t want one. Now, how is that for friendship. She ended up getting a connected female/male symbol on her lower stomach. She didn’t regret it and we have this great memory to share.
Friend #2 – Tattoo #3 is my favorite and I got it from Gabe Shum at Ace Dragon Tattoo in Hong Kong. Brilliant tattoo artist by the way. If you want a dragon, he is the go to guy. My friend’s boyfriend and I were going to get tattoos. He had one already and wanted to get a dragon on her upper arm. Now, my friend is the type of person I though would never get a tattoo. I realize now that you can’t assume that about anyone. She sat and watch her boyfriend and I talk about and plan and schedule our tattoos for months. (Gabe usually has a waiting list). She went with us to the tattoo shop. Her boyfriend gets his tattoo and then I get mine. The entire time, I am telling her to go ahead get one. And telling her what a bad ass she would be if she had a tattoo. As we were wrapping my tattoo up, she decides to get one. A small dragon on her lower stomach. Seems to be the place for spur of the moment tattoos. She said, she saw how excited we were about our tattoos, she wanted to experience it herself. Now, she wants to get an entire back piece. We created a monster.
One of my favorite episodes of Friends is when Phoebe convinces Rachel to get a tattoo with her. Phoebe decided to get a Lily, “For my mom because her name is Lily.” Later at the shop, Rachel get her heart shape tattoo on her hip. Then, when Rachel asked to see Phoebe’s tattoo, she didn’t get it. “The guy came in with needles and did you know they do this with needles.” and then Rachel replies, “Really, you don’t say because mine was licked on by kittens.”
After getting her back in the chair, the artist touched Phoebe once and she jump out of the chair and left. In sharing the story with the “friends” later, she says “For your information, this is exactly what I wanted. This is a tattoo of the earth as seen from a great great distance. It’s the way my mother sees me from heaven.” Cue the aahh track.
Needless to say, you should get a tattoo for yourself, but getting a tattoo with friends can be a great bonding experience. But, please make sure you want one the tattoo in the first place. As you know, they are permanent.
I am still taking submissions for tattoo stories. If you would like to be a part of Tattoo Tuesday, let me know in the comments.
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 