My Tattoo Story

I'll be honest. This post has always been a scary thought for me. I've mentioned before that I live in a very politically correct world. I have a politically correct job where I dress within a certain standard and act a certain way. Tattoos have become more socially acceptable since their invention, but they are still frowned upon in my everyday life. I like to rebel here and there where I can get away with it. My biggest rebellions to date are dying my hair florescent pink, and today's story. This is my tattoo story.

I'd always known from a young age that I wanted a tattoo. Whenever I want something really bad especially something as big as a permanent mark on my body, I will wait for it. So from the time I was 18 until the time I was 23 I planned, I researched, and I waited. Five years is a long time, but when it comes to commitment I can wait. 

I always thought I'd end up with a small music note, or an epically long quote that meant something to me. What I ended up with was so much better. If there is one thing I know it's that I will love traveling and the world until the end of my life.

Luckily for me when I decided I was making the right decision my best friend was also making the decision to get a tattoo of her own (not her first.) On the day of our appointment I was accompanied by my very best friend, and her always honest husband.

I knew the exact moment that I had made the right decision. My tattoo artist had just put my stencil on to check the placement. I walked over to the mirror, checked it out and thought it was a good placement. When I  asked my two escorts my best friend who had just finished with her tattoo (I don't remember why I thought it was a good idea for her to go first) said it looked great. Her husband said it was "adorable." I had never heard him use the word adorable before so I took it as a sign and I said. Let's Do It!

I chose my tattoo for many reasons. A few of which I told to my tattoo artist while he was drawing it.

1. I've been traveling and flying since I was three years old. It's the love of my life.

2. I have terrible wanderlust and one day I will travel the world. "Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer."

3. My dad is one of the smartest people I know. He prides himself on his knowledge of geography, so it's kind of a throw back to him.

4. It's brown because I wanted something that would age well. The more it fades the better it will look, like an aged map.

5. It's on my shoulder so I can easily hide it at work and show it off when I want to without being indecent. 

6. It doesn't have edges so any time only parts of it are showing it looks like a birth mark.

Here it is...

Post tattoo I have discovered a few things about myself. 

• The pain I went through for this tattoo is a lot less than I had originally imagined. Although Africa nearly sent me off the table.

• I am a one tattoo woman. I crave organization and matching. I've realized that tattoos unless done all in one sitting are insanely difficult to make look like one fluid piece of art.

• I enjoy the mystery having a hidden tattoo gives me. It's my own personal rebellion and I love it.