Outward Sign



chinese for together

 

I have flirted with tattoos. I have imagined the dark lines binding pieces
of my fantasy self onto the awkward bulges of my real flesh. I have
envisioned becoming more myself by submitting to the sharp tongue of a silver
needle but I have a father who wears an impossibly perfect woman’s torso
as a veil over the name of the girl whom he thought he’d love forever. He
tells me variously that her name was Martina or Maria. He changes his
story to fit his mood but he never changes the part where he wishes he
hadn’t turned his skin into an outward sign of his inmost heart. Because
of him, I never could allow myself to be bound to one season of self
fantasy. I paint myself only with transient touches of powder and gloss
and my skin like a mirror reflects only my current identity.

Several months ago, I saw a tattoo. I liked the simple Chinese brush strokes
and asked the girl, “What does it mean?”

She brushed just the fingertips of her left hand against the smooth pale olive
of her pulse and smiled–not at me–but to some warm place inside herself.
“Together. It means together and my sister and I got it together–here where
our hearts are next to our hands.”I don’t know whether I will want a sister or a tattoo tomorrow but
tonight I envy her.

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27 Comments
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max
Guest
max
16 years ago

I think about tats too, but never get one. It is too big a commitment to a current state of mind I think for me.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Wow that is such a scary thought.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

The henna tats are fun and they wear off. They look a little grizzly right at the end though, like you just did not wash sufficiently. Also they do not come in pretty colors or I have never seen them in pretty colors.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

The henna tats are fun and they wear off. They look a little grizzly right at the end though, like you just did not wash sufficiently. Also they do not come in pretty colors or I have never seen them in pretty colors.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago
max
Guest
max
16 years ago
Staff
Member
16 years ago

Where do you find these things. Do you have a quiz genie?

I couldn’t help myself and I submitted.

Not a kitten at least!

You Should Get A Butterfly Tattoo
Sweet and sassy
For you, tattoos are a thing of beauty – not toughness
http://images.blogthings.com/whattatooshouldyougetquiz/butterfly.jpg

And if my bottom looked like this, I not only would get it but I’d flaunt it.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Woohoo! That is one sassy butterfly.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Woohoo! That is one sassy butterfly.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Wait a minute. I showed you mine….

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

I did that quiz a long time ago and did not post it — it said I should get a full body tattoo which was disconcerting to me.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

I did that quiz a long time ago and did not post it — it said I should get a full body tattoo which was disconcerting to me.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

As well it might be!!!

A) that would hurt way too much and B) You’re too pretty to cover up–accent maybe but, cover up–no!

And besides what possible theme could still be enjoyed 20 years later.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Aww. Thanks, you. Smooch!

[There really is that fear of pain thing going on, I can see being halfway through a tattoo and saying, Okay stop it hurts too much. And then walking around with a half tattoo after, a tribute and reminder to my pain aversion wussness.]

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Aww. Thanks, you. Smooch!

[There really is that fear of pain thing going on, I can see being halfway through a tattoo and saying, Okay stop it hurts too much. And then walking around with a half tattoo after, a tribute and reminder to my pain aversion wussness.]

Staff
Member
16 years ago

After having my ears pierced, I swore I was never going to do something that painful voluntarily again. Of course, then I went on to have kids and take black belt tests….

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

I think about piercing my navel, but yeah, after the ear piercing….

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

I think about piercing my navel, but yeah, after the ear piercing….

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Oh ow!

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Oh ow!