Tattoo Meme

I know I said I hate memes, and actually part of the reason I'm posting this is to get that last one way down out of sight, but this one is kind of fun. I read about it over at Mommy needs a Martini. If you've got a tattoo, let's see it, and hear all about it.

My one and only tattoo I had done in the summer of 1996. I was newly in love with Lance then, and tattoos were all the rage. I wanted one desperately but I couldn't figure out what to get. I considered the UNC symbol, but was (fortunately) talked out of it. Finally I decided on a compass, and Lance drew it for me to take into the tattoo parlor. It's on the inside of my right hip, just above the groin, 95% below the bikini line. At first, the artist didn't want to put it there--she said that area was too sensitive for a first tattoo, and it would be better to put in on my shoulder. But I wanted it above the groin--I like the trashiness of a compass directing people to that area of my body--and eventually she agreed to it. And it did hurt, but I will admit there was a bit of pleasure too. Hard to explain, but I liked the sensation.

I know some people regret their tattoos, but I love mine. It reminds me of being young and in love. It reminds me of Lance. It reminds me of San Francisco and the wonderful time I had there when I was just a youngster. Also, because of its location, nobody knows about it, so I don't have to give a lot of explanations. You can see the top of it when I wear a bikini, but that's the only time it's visible.