So you want a tattoo. NEAT! Maybe your friend got one and it looks rad, and you thought, "Hey I want a tattoo." Whatever the case, you want one and you're going for it. Well, now its time to figure out what, and the possibilities are endless. You'll send an indecent amount of screenshots to close friends followed by, "Help! Do I want this seashell looking thing or this quote from that novel that changed my life last summer??! How do I pick!?"
Now comes the part where you remember that you have parents that love you. Their opinions matter to you, and unfortunately, you're going to have to tell them about your plans. Either they'll be supportive (probably not) or they'll freak out (most likely). So start working on your apologies-- the one for before you go and then the one for afterwards when the inks healing and your mothers crying.
Unlike your parents, who have the right to express concern over your life choices, there will be others-- friends, siblings, managers, maybe even teachers-- who try to change your mind. They'll remind you that its permanent as if you didn't understand how tattoos work. They'll try to convince you that you'll never get a job with a visible tat like it's not 2017, and tattoos are still taboo. When all this pleading fails, they'll try one final send off, "Okay well do what you want, but I could NEVER do that. Ugh so painful. Too much commitment." Hmm, that's nice but good thing I'm my own person, and your issues are not mine.
Walking into the parlor is the first moment when you'll go from feeling like the cool kid on the block to a tattoo-less baby. The artists are tatted up and look like they've seen it all. All around you are tattoo guns full of needles and the buzzing is intense. You're not walking out without your tattoo, but your palms are sweaty and oh my God why is the room spinning, ahh okay I'm okay, we're fine.
Fast forward to the part where there are actually needles on your flesh. You're okay. You're keeping it together, but it freaking hurts. As much as you try to act okay about it externally, internally you're saying the alphabet backward to distract yourself from the pain and the reality of the situation you put yourself
This is you from the eyes of the tattoo artists.
This is you internally, trying to remember why this was a good idea.
When you're finally all done, the tattoo artist will say it looks dope, your friends will be jealous, your mom will decide, "Oh, it's not really that bad", and those who doubted you will probably just not say anything because in reality, they never actually cared that much. All the while you'll sit back and feel like a complete gangster with your fresh ink, checking yourself out in every mirror you pass.
