Henna Shmenna. If you’re going to get a tattoo, forget about the temporary ones. Go for the gusto. In this case, of course, gusto equals needles, ink, and a little bit of pain. It’s a huge decision to permanently use your body as an artist’s canvas and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

After years of looking at the lovely Celtic-type tattoo my dear friend decided to place on her ear in college, I still hadn’t decided that taking this particular walk on the wild side was for me. I kept imagining my mother’s voice saying upon the pronouncement of my new indelible mark, “What do you mean you got a tattoo? I raised you to be a decent girl. What will all the neighbors think?” That alone kept me from stepping up to the plate to become that deviant child my parents never raised … Until now.

According to my handy dandy pocket dictionary, deviant means “one who’s behavior differs from accepted social or moral standards.” If a tattoo makes me a deviant, then I suppose I crossed that line last June. But so have many, many others. After hours and hours of research, I’ve come to realize that tattoos ARE mainstream, and, while some who receive them may be deviant, most are just middle of the road guys and gals like me and my friends.

According to Shawn Richwine of Pro Ink Tattoo in Penbrook, it’s not just drunken sailors strolling into a parlor on leave from a tour of duty somewhere to get their girlfriend’s name permanently engraved on their arm. He says, “As a matter of fact, someone under the influence of anything can’t be tattooed at all. Besides that, there’s not too many sailors getting tattoos anymore. It’s the people you’d least expect who are getting tattoos these days. I’ve done doctors, teachers, lawyers, and housewives.” According to Richwine, both young (over 18, of course) and old are arriving at the shop and keeping them busy until the stage coach turns into a pumpkin, around midnight. Incidentally, it took me about a week to get my appointment.

It’s no wonder that tattooing has finally caught on. After all, it has been around for hundreds of years. It has always been a form of expression in one way or another. In the past, different cultures tattooed for different reasons. Mostly, however, it was because of prestige. It was a very sanctioned and esteemed art. Only those of the highest rank were privileged enough to adorn their bodies in such a permanent way.

In the 1990’s, it is still a very special kind of art. Whether it’s a rose, a family’s coat of arms, or a favorite cartoon character, most who get tattooed feel that the art they receive has a very special meaning. It is their way of expressing themselves. Some tattoos tell of someone’s life, such as a military symbol. Others are just a small statement of one’s beliefs like a black panther or another political symbol. Whatever the case, people go to painstaking efforts to make sure that their tattoos are exactly right for them.

Ross Sackler, a Central PA computer consultant, says of his permanent skin stain, “I’ve always been into the Buddha and what it stands for on a spiritual level. This particular design that I found looked a little different, and I really dug it. The title of it is Third Eye Divine. Basically, a three eyed Buddha.” He continues, “ The theory behind it is that the third eye is the eye that looks past the surface of the skin and into the soul and seeks the true beauty in everyone. The third eye is able to do what the other two eyes are not capable of. I felt this would not only be neat artwork (and I still think so after some time), but it’s also a constant reminder to try to look past the surface of a person, constantly striving to find the good, which seems impossible at times. I feel that it keeps me in touch with the beauty and reality of life. Kind of like a reality check.”

Wendy McGlaughlin, a teacher from the West Shore commented, “It took me months of drawing and erasing to find the exact design I wanted.” She continues, “Getting a tattoo was a family decision for me. There were many things to consider. I’m a teacher and I surely don’t want to lose the respect of my students or their parents when they see my tattoo. I opted for one on my shoulder so that I can hide it whenever I choose to — and my husband thinks it’s sexy.”

There are certainly arguments against getting a tattoo. My mother could name them all (and most likely will when she gets a load of the chain of flowers adorned on my ankle), but most of them can be debunked easily. First of all, forget the social stigma attached. It’s a very fashionable thing these days. Go to the beach or the mall. There are tattoos everywhere. Secondly, a reputable place has new needles for each new tattoo, and every other part of the tattoo machine is put into the autoclave for sterilization after each use.

The only negative aspect I can think of is the pain. Does it hurt? Like hell, but perhaps I’m just a wimp. The noise is like fingernails going down a chalkboard and the discomfort is … well … uncomfortable. It’s worth every needle stick, though. I love my tattoo. Unlike a gold bracelet, no one can steal it and you can’t lose it. It’s mine, all mine. It’s a symbol of who I am and what was important to this average, middle of the road mother of two in June of 1998. As Pete Townshend penned and Tommy Keene sang, “Welcome to My Life, Tattoo”.