by James Callahan

Created on: January 20, 2009

A friend of mine who works in pest control told me you don't see as many butterfIies as you once did. I said I know why. They're all painted on the backsides of young women. OK, I guess I just don't completely get it, this whole tattoo thing. But then I don't really get NASCAR either. They tell me that you must go to a race to really appreciate racing. So maybe it's the same with tats. You know, when you hear the expression in football, "that guy really got tattooed on that play," it generally means it's a bad thing-for him. As in, oh gosh, that's gonna leave a mark. I've just never thought of tattoos as terribly appealing. Or maybe I'm just a little old fashioned, probably just the old old stigma about tats being the "bad guys badge," so to speak. I understand the sailor thing, sort of. I watched popeye as a kid, with his anchor, or was it a battleship? Or I can kind of understand the gang thing, sort of, wearing something to identify them or their alliance after a crime or illegal activity. OK I don't really get that. Maybe it's kind of like the earing thing for guys that have been south of the equator, though I can never remember which ear is the heterosexual side, or vice versa. I don't have any piercings either by the way, as one might guess. Be that as it may, I don't see anything terribly wrong with having one, or two, or three. But what's with these people that obliterate one whole arm, or get them up onto their necks or face. It brings attention, I suppose, but so what? I generally think the human body is more beautiful au natural. When I see a beautiful young women decorating herself this way, I just have to wonder why. I don't think I'm alone on this, even though something like a third of the population has at least one tattoo. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a woman who will do something that she'll later regret. I'm all for that. Be that as it may, it's just seems way too permanent. I can grow a mustache, but I can always shave it off, if you see what I'm getting at. I dated this women that had her ex husband's name spelled out on her chest, over her heart-she told me she would one day have it removed. I didn't care. At the time I thought it might be just as much fun to just change MY name. But be that as it may. Maybe I'll have to get one, to understand. I have heard that they are addicting. So maybe that's it. Chances are better that I'll give NASCAR a try.

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