My post from earlier this month, Midlife Rebellion (or Why I Decided to Get a Tattoo) got a little “Freshly Pressed” love and now I’m here to say it’s done, here’s a picture and here’s how it went down. Let me just get the obvious issue out of the way: ouch, ouch and #$%@ ouch! Yes, it hurt. This is an expected consequence for getting needles poked into your skin. It was manageable pain in the sense that I did not pass out, vomit or wail. Childbirth has a way of putting these things into perspective.
After filling out the requisite paperwork, showing my ID and approving a quick sketch, I waited in the studio’s reception area to be retrieved by the tattoo artist (tattooist? tattooer?). I had been referred to Shane Wallin, the owner of Twilight Tattoo in the Powderhorn neighborhood of south Minneapolis. His place is very, very mellow – from the anomaly of a small garden bed in front of the building to the warm earth-toned environment inside. Nice artwork, a clean setting, laid back staff – just a nice setup altogether. It gave me confidence that my tatted friends had not led me astray.
I sent Shane my idea for a tattoo in advance. I wanted something simple – a vine or tree representing my love of gardening and of my own personal growth, with my family’s initials worked into it. I wanted it on my inside forearm so I could see it. Thoughts of picking someplace hidden occurred to me briefly, but I did a trial run with some henna tattoos over the summer and decided that I liked it in plain view. He laid out the design for me and I asked that it be pulled back from the wrist a little for the option of a long sleeve cover up. I was thinking of funerals, which gives you my frame of mind for this appointment.
When I get nervous or anxious, I am unnaturally calm and quiet. I’d like to think I’d quickly develop rapport with someone preparing to poke me with needles, but my anxiety was pounding in every vein in my body and I could barely make eye contact, much less conversation. Shane was quiet and polite and got down to business quickly. When he said “Ready?”, I could barely answer as my eyes had been hypnotized by the big ass needles he had just ripped out of sealed packages. My mother and a nurse had to hold me down when I was 9 just to prick my finger for blood. Let’s see how me and the big ass needles play out.
During my research on tattoos, I read that the wrist and near the inside elbow crease would be painful due to all the nerve endings. This turned out to be fact for me and when he started at my wrist, I thought that I would have to wrap up the show early and leave with a solo leaf. The pain decreased as he worked his way up the arm – not sure if that was my adrenalin kicking in or a location issue. I didn’t watch him work for most of the time, but focused on breathing. Then he did that top leaf outline near the elbow and I was yelping in my head like one of those people trapped in their bodies who are only able to blink to indicate that they were still alive. Okay….breathe….I’m sure he’ll be done any minute.
The “problem” with going to someone good at their craft is that they take the time to do a good job. He kept psyching me out by carefully looking over his work and deciding something needed to be better. He’d set one needle down and I’d look up like an eager Labrador. We’re done, we’re done, right, we’re done? Then Shane would pick up the other needle gun thingy (yeah, my research didn’t involve much terminology) and do some more work. Finally it was done, he gave me the care instructions, I paid and headed for home.
I have to say I really, really like it. Which is probably a good thing. Since it’s a tattoo and all.
The Green Study 
It’s beautiful. Hurrah for you!
LikeLike
Thank you! I’ve been feeling pretty pleased with myself for following through and doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Now for the next challenge!
LikeLike
You did not get the red-butted baboon? 😉 The tattoo is simply lovely
LikeLike
Ha! You first, Doris! I can always have this tattoo converted into a tropical plant and add the baboon later…..
LikeLike
You’re very brave! It’s very pretty.
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m probably less brave than determined to follow through. I didn’t feel brave at all sitting in that chair!
LikeLike
That is so damn beautiful! Congratulations on going through with it, and what an excellent reward for the pain.
LikeLike
Thanks! The real reward was the look on my 80 something year old mother-in-law’s face at dinner last night when she saw it. Priceless!
LikeLike
Please tell me she’s going to get one too.
LikeLike
She looked at me like I’d suddenly become a meth dealer, so I don’t think so!
LikeLike
Woo! Way to go! It looks fantastic!
LikeLike
Thanks! It feels a little less than fantastic, but looking forward to enjoying it more when the healing is done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes me want to go outand get one! I’ll wait until I get freshly pressed! I could be waiting some time tho. 🙂
LikeLike
The “Freshly Pressed” thing took me off guard. Now I have to keep reminding myself that writing was the whole point in me starting a blog, not the magic numbers on the stat screen.
LikeLike
Nice tat, and I gotta say, you got bigger stones than I do! (On the other hand, I’ve jumped out of a bunch of airplanes, so I don’t feel too bad.) If I ever could decide what I wanted, and did make the leap, it would have to be somewhere I feel the least pain (Craig Ferguson has mentioned how much the inner wrist hurts when he got his “Don’t Tread On Me” tattoo… the thought makes me cringe).
Lots of pain-killing alcohol would probably be required as well…
LikeLike
I wanted to jump out of a plane in my 20s, but I was too chicken (and on my international booze tour). I wanted to run a marathon in my 30s, but was working too much to commit. In my 40s, the tattoo thing seemed more manageable, less time consuming and just freaky enough to make me feel like I was daring.
LikeLike
Beautiful tattoo!! I’ve thought of getting one, but could never decide on a design, so I don’t have one. Or maybe I just decided I really didn’t want one that badly! But yours is fantastic!!!
LikeLike
Thank you – it took me several months to come up with an idea that I thought I could live with. Shane did such a wonderful job on it – it came out better than anything I could imagine.
LikeLike
Congrats on the Tattoo! It’s a really lovely design. In about a week it will be over the hump and healing up – sometime after that you will start thinking about your next one:)
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m likely a one tattoo kind of gal, but I’m really glad I went through with it and I was lucky to get such a great artist.
LikeLike
It’s really pretty well done! …. want any more yet??
LikeLike
Still feeling that special healing burn, so not ready to line up for more! Very glad I had it done, though.
LikeLike
Yours is lovely. Still haven’t come out of the closet with the tattoo I got where the sun doesn’t shine.
LikeLike
I have to admit, I’m a little self-conscious about it at this point. I picked a prominent, visible location so I just need to get used to it, but no regrets.
LikeLike
[…] It’s a done deal, folks. See Tattoo Accomplished: The Follow Up. Thanks for all the great comments! Share […]
LikeLike
Congratulations! My tattoo only hurt in one teeny, tiny little spot but it hurt so bad I wanted to throw up.
LikeLike
Thanks – I am glad I did it, but it was my first and last tattoo! I have moderate pain tolerance and I wouldn’t have lasted much more than the hour it took.
LikeLike
What a great design. I like how you included initials in it as well — subtle but perfect. Nice job.
LikeLike
Thanks – the novelty has worn off a bit, but thank goodness the tattoo hasn’t!
LikeLike
(sorry I spammed you a bit with all the comments on your posts. I was just getting caught up, and of course I couldn’t resist commenting on the FP and tattoo story!) Glad that tattoo hasn’t washed off yet. 😉
LikeLike
No worries – I’ve got to sit here anyway or else I am going to be incredibly behind (which is remarkably different from having an incredible behind). The English language is a lot of fun.
LikeLike
Ha ha, good one!
LikeLike
Hi I just found you after creating my new blog today. I love the tattoo I got on my wrist at age 54 a few years ago! It makes me smile every time I see it! Yay for us brave women!
LikeLike
I love mine still, especially now that it’s no longer a novelty and feels like part of me. Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your new blog!
LikeLike
Oh my god, I love it! Good for you!
The design I’m planning on is very simple, but I’m still terrified — and I’m NOT afraid of needles! I’ll have to channel some of your strength when I go. 🙂
PS – I used to live in Minneapolis! Midwest high-five!
LikeLike
Thanks! All I can tell you is breathe, breathe, breathe on getting it done.
I love living in this area – as long as we keeping getting an actual winter, I’m staying!
LikeLike
I’ll have to let you know how it goes. 🙂
Winter is my favorite! I’m back home in WI now, and we are STILL snowless. My heart is breaking!
LikeLike
It’s beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you! I still like it, which is a good sign, I think.
LikeLike
I read this after reading your ‘Midlife Rebellion’ post. I can so relate to your reasons to have a tattoo – life with a little rebellion is so much more fun 🙂
I am still trying to figure out what I’m going to do myself this decade 😉
LikeLike
It was fun to decide on something and then follow through with it. Now, onto the next bit of craziness….trying to get a novel published. Not quite as rebellious and a lot more work!
LikeLike
Whether we do crazy or challenging or just new things, they are what keeps life interesting.
You are a great writer – I look forward to continue reading your posts and wish you all the best with your novel.
LikeLike
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement!
LikeLike
Hey there, I’m a tattooist from Australia and just read this after your midlife rebellion post. It’s really cool to see things from the other perspective -why you decided to do it and all – since it’s my job tattoos seem so normal to me now and it’s easy to forget how big a deal they are for people .I came from a poor and Christian upbringing too ,I ended up tattooing to make money to raise my kids- I’m only just learning this whole blog business though, I’m so bad at technology! So i guess everyone is out of their depth somewhere eh ;D … you write well, so thanks, it was a pleasure to read. And the artist who did your tattoo did a really nice job 🙂
LikeLike
Welcome to blogging and thanks for sharing your experience. I have to believe that in being a tattooist, you must have an astounding level of self-confidence – sticking needles in jumpy, nervous people (maybe that was just me).
I think it’s always good to be a little out of one’s depth – keeps life interesting. I really like the work that Shane did as well. A year later, it still looks vibrant and lovely. Thanks for your kind words about the writing and I wish you well on your blogging journey!
LikeLike
I like your tattoo. I got my first (and only) one a few years ago. I love text and words, so I have my son’s birthplace written along the outside of my foot. I still get shocked comments when I’m wearing flip flops or low-cut shoes and people notice it for the first time because I’m quite straight laced and, dare I say it, boring. If I could do it again, I’d get something on my wrist, instead.
LikeLike
Thanks! It’s been over a year for me and sometimes at school events, I’ll wear long sleeves. It’s my own prejudice, though, because I’ve never gotten anything but compliments and everyone else keeps their thoughts to themselves. I’m a relatively conservative person in terms of dress and conduct, so this was a big deal to me, but if I do something, I tend to go big! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
LikeLike
I’m not sure why WordPress chose to send me to these old posts, but I hadn’t seen your latest Freshly Pressed or your tattoo! I love it! I was thinking of one of those nice little roses on your upper arm or something. This is, well, it’s THERE. Awesome! Hope yo are doing well.
LikeLike
Thanks, Melanie. I’m finally returning after a summer hiatus. I just needed to re-set and decide what my intentions were for blogging and you know, life. Usually if I decide to do something that scares me a bit, I go big! Hope all is well with you, too – I know it’s been a tough year for you.
LikeLike