Interview- My Sister’s Experience with Tattoos

When Princessa released the new HubMob topic this Monday, I said to myself, “What do I know or care about body art?”  Then as usual, ideas started to stream to me on Wednesday.  I now have a stack of research on what will likely be at least 3 hubs.  By Friday, the idea came to me, “Duh, you live under the same roof with someone who has experienced tattoos.”  Nothing extreme mind you.  A mere 2 tattoos. 

This is an interview with my roommate, my younger sister Christy.  I hope you enjoy her story of about her tattoos. 

You have 2 tattoos.  For the record, tell me what tattoos you have and where they are.

Yes I have a beautiful purple flower with a blue hummingbird fluttering above it, on my right shoulder blade.  I also have a nude fairy intertwined in a rose stem, with her sniffing the rose.  It also has a ribbon through it with an ex-lover’s name on it.  It is on my right upper breast. 

What other designs did you consider?  Did you consider other locations?  Did you rule out locations based on what distortions might happen to the design with gravity and years?

I always wanted a rose.  I never really thought about anything other than a flower.  When looking through the pics I saw the purple flower and hummingbird and fell in love with it.  It has beautiful color, and because I took care of it, it still has good color today some 20 years later.  Gravity etc. never entered my mind.  I joked at the time, if I did not like it, I did not have to look at it.  Actually it takes a mirror, and a lot of effort to look at it.

When did you first start thinking of getting a tattoo?  How long before you got it?

I wanted one for as long as I can remember.  I got my first when I was 24 years old.  I was married to a really good guy for about 3 years, but I was living in another state.  I had wanted to get tats on my honeymoon, a few years before, but he didn’t want me to.  My second, I was 40. 

What or who made you want to get a tattoo?

I think they are pretty, and I think with the first, part of it was the statement it makes about you.

So what was the statement of that first tattoo? 

I’m a little bit on the wild side.  I have a tattoo.

How did you decide what tattoo to get?  How did you decide where to put it?  Did you agonize over it?

I wanted something that would grow old with me, not something immature and stupid.  I never really liked big bright tats on the arms of a chic, so I always planned for the back of my shoulder.  Something small enough to hide if need be, like for church, yet very visible in tanks, tubes, etc.  This was the 80s okay.  I did not agonize over it.

By the time you got your second tattoo, you had come out as gay.  Did that change “the statement”?

Yeah, I wanted a fairy.  It's a gay thang.  And I still wanted a rose, so we actually took two designs and blended them together.  My partner and I both got the tattoo.  They are the only ones in existence.  Our design.  It was 2004, and we got them both for $300.  That was supposed to be a cut-rate deal.  I do love the tattoo, but I wish I did not have a name on it.  But....hey--you live--you learn.

How did you decide on a tattoo parlor or tattoo artist? Did you have any concerns about safety at the time?

For my first one, I put my complete trust in a friend, who took me to someone’s trailer (residence) out in the boonies of NC. He opened a huge trunk, and had a complete tattoo parlor inside. He had previously worked the beaches in FL. He did a great job. I did have safety concerns, but he showed me he was using brand new needles, and destroyed them afterward in front of me. It was about 1988 or 1989, and cost me $40.

Where did you get your 2^nd tattoo?

My girlfriend and I were on a romantic get away to Bar Harbor Maine. We had not really talked about getting tattoos before. Just did it on our vacation. Just found a shop on the street. Our tattoo artist was a young “Hello Kitty” chic.

Tell me about the actual process of getting the tattoo.

It hurts like a bitch.  It is truly a tiny cluster of needles that they dip in ink, and rip through your skin.  Then you have tens of thousands of little needle holes, that feels like really bad sunburn for about a week to ten days.

Didn’t you tell me previously that you felt sick, or like you might pass out? 

Yes, I thought I was going to pass out.  He had to stop, let me walk around, get fresh air.  His wife said it was like giving blood, that your body reacts, and you have no control over it.  Said she had seen big men get 10-15 tats, and never even flinch, yet number 16, they pass out cold.  Part of mine I think was plain out shock!  I had wanted a tat for a long time and had been looking forward to it, and I probably even thought I was tough.  I was not prepared for the pain.  When those needles hit my skin, and then he really does basically rip your flesh to apply this ink.  I damn near went through the ceiling. It hurts like hell, and anyone who tells you differently is lying or freaky.  Some places hurt worse than others, but it all hurts.  

Did you have special instructions on how to care for the tattoo?

Yes, the day it is done it is an open wound.  They oil it up real good and tape saran wrap on it.  I was advised to change it every day, but keep it moist.  If it gets dry, it kinda scabs up and you can lose some color as the scabs flake off.  My second one, my girlfriend got the exact same tat, the same day.  She laughed at me as I gobbed Neosporin on mine, constantly.  I really caked it on for at least 2 weeks.  Hers dried up and flaked, and she lost probably half of her color.  At several years old, hers looked 20 years older than mine. 

What about color and shape of your 2 tattoos now?  Do you still love your tattoos?  Do you like to display them? 

They both still have good color and are beautiful.  I still love them both.  And yes I still like to display them.  They are body art and beautiful and people like to look at pretty things. 

Will you get additional tattoos? Why or why not?

I would love another, but probably not.  The toxic effects concern me now, where before I never really looked at that part of it. Also you would kill me because of the issue of the toxic effects.  I would at least like to fill in the name ribbon.  Never put another person’s name on your body.  Big negative on the name thing.

Final thoughts?

Body art is a big business.