De question
On the first night of class, every semester, my students have to introduce themselves. The purpose is twofold; I get a jump on trying to match 20+ names to 20+ faces, and it gets them past that first mortifying communication apprehension speedbump.
However, I detest the "share your name/grade/major" introduction format, so I make them share their name and either the worst movie they've ever seen (and why it sucked), or I ask them to answer this question:
If you have to get a tattoo, where would it be located and what would it be? And you must get one; doesn't matter if you have one or several or none already. I'm always fascinated by their answers.
So, my few in-the-computer friends, what's your answer?*
*Mine would be on my arm, and would read "Love One Another". In case you wondered.
posted by White Trasherati @ 12:36 PM
21 comments
21 Comments:
I would (and will) get a tiny triple spiral symbol tattooed on my left (inside) wrist. I have a picture of said symbol in my wallet that I could show you if, you know, we were in the same room right now. Instead, I recommend you go to www.symbols.com and look up "spiral of life" also categorized as symbol 32:22.
I would get a flesh-colored tattoo of...I don't know...a tuna, on my stomach so it will blend with the other stretch marks.
I will name my tuna Al. When I get bored I will try to make him dance. To "Swani." (I can go on like this forever...)But since only I will know that Al is a tuna and not a strangely-shaped stretch mark, it will cause my gynocologist to say, "Did you know you have a stretch mark on your stomach that looks like a fish?"
And I will tell him it is a tuna. Al Tuna. Then I will sing "Swani" and make him dance (the tuna). We will laugh (me and the doctor...and I guess, indirectly, Al).
Altoona! HA.
They won't eat stroganoff after giving you stretch marks?!? Again, UNGRATEFUL ruffians.
Singing tuna not a stretchmark ... I like it.
Dancing tuna, can't top that one.
Wow, what a question. I've often thought of getting a tattoo for each of my kids. What image you say? Why a bumblebee and a sweet potato, natch. But how do I explain having a potato tattoo to my grandchildren?
Hi W.T.,
I don't like tats, and also there is no way I can top the dancing Altuna.
But for some reason I always thought I'd like to have a celtic symol called the trinity (it's like the charmed one symbol), and I want it above my right ankle. I think it's maybe because there are three of us--me, my husband and my daughter, and the trinity is three.
Janice~
If I am going to be FORCIBLY tattooed, I suppose I will follow the historical precedent and opt for a six-digit number on the inside of my left forearm. Maybe 174517.
I'd get a couple of fish tattooed in a pisces-ish configuration on the back of my neck at the base of my scalp. Very small. And in white ink. Not that I've given it a lot of thought or anything.
In a parallel universe where I don't give a crap about other people's opinions, a comically huge red and green dragon engulfs my entire right arm and shoulder.
First, what a cool icebreaker.
Second, I think I'd get something really classic, like a heart in chains, or MOM, and I'd put it right on my bicep like I was a sailor.
Doppleganger and Marigoldie- Those are both awesome. I've always fantasized about one of those hard core tattoos too but it just isn't practical.
Or is it...?
I'd have a wee hummingbird. Maybe on my shoulder.
I have a tattoo, a gorgeous band of flowers around my wrist. (http://www.dardarian.com/images/NanTat5.jpg) I got it when I was 51, finally realizing that I really don't care what people think. I described what I wanted to my tattoo artist, and she designed it. The reason there aren't outlines around the flowers is because I am planning on continuing the tattoo, all the way up my arm to my shoulder. So that's what I'd do!
I wouldn't get a tattoo, but if I had to get a tattoo it would probably be some word or phrase, in Latin, tattooed on my pelvic bone so only people who saw me naked would see it. Maybe semper fidelis, to steal from the Marines.
My husband, more interestingly, has always said that if he got a tattoo, it would be a barcode on the back of his neck, with his social security number underneath it.
Kate, I'm with you - it would have to be somewhere...discreet? Can a tattoo be discreet?
Everyone, thank you for the responses. Although now every time I think of Marigoldie it features a sailor cap and her flexing.
I'll try to come up with another question to coerce you into talking to me and revealing your innermost thoughts.
I think the most discrete place would be in between the butt cheeks.
If I had to get one, it would be there, mostly because a) I don't think the skin there stretches too much, and b) if it does, ain't nobody but my proctologist gon' see that.
And I think it would be designed specifically for my proctologist, maybe some kind of face where, once you spread them cheeks apart, you see a scary face staring back at you.
And of course, I would have to switch proctologists every time. So the shock would be fresh.
I'm still underage, but as soon as I turn 18 I plan to get a tattoo of the cover art to Flannery O'Connor's novel "Wise Blood," probably on my shoulderblade. I've got a picture of it here: http://www.livejournal.com/userpic/43543540/2252978
If I HAD to get one, it would be "I've been on earth 47 years and all I got was this stupid tattoo." But since I WANT to get one when I turn 50, I'm enchanted with both the triple-spiral and hummingbird ideas. And on me, discreet means anywhere other than face, neck, forearms, and feet, so I can go for it!
I have to get this tattoo, right? A tattoo or death kind of thing?
A freckle. My cheek, near my nose, to blend in with my other freckles.
'Cause I really don't care for the idea of a tattoo.
I've had my tattoo desire for a while, but, it'd be a big undertaking, thus money, which, oi! Fulltime student here. Me = poor.
In any case, my tattoo would be a multiple-parter. Firstly, I'd get a cartouche (that is, an egyptian written containment meant to signify the names of important personages) with the hieroglyphs for my own name (or the closest cognate possible) inside. This would be at the base of my neck, right over the bump of my spine and extending down til its level with my shoulders. Then, a lotus flower, with many many petals, being an Egyptian lotus and not the symbolic Buddhist version, would be placed right between my shoulder blades, with the roots trailing down my back, in a very very light grey/green, so it's subtle. Then, Egyptian wings of the Horus variety tattooed over my shoulder blades.
that fox right at my bikini line on my right hip.
And I'm seriously considering it next weekend. :)
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