Just An Ordinary Tattoo ( REVISED)

A permanent marking on someone’s back. It is 5 inches in length and width. It has no color besides the dullness of black upon her brown skin. The style of the letters is not unique besides the “J” and the “Y” which appears to be done in cursive. The rest of the letters are normal. A very strange looking rose underneath the name “Jenny”. Last but not least, two “sparkles” that surround the name “Jenny” on both sides.

            My mom got her first and only tattoo at the age of 22.  Her tattoo is a rose with her nickname “Jenny” above it. As I observed her tattoo I asked the most common question in the world of tattoos. What does it mean? I expected a mind blowing response since tattoos are permanent and you want to make it meaningful. “I like roses and people call me Jenny rather than my real name.” To be sure that was it I had to ask, “Is that it?!” My mother with a straight face responded that’s it.  She got a tattoo on her favorite flower and her nickname. I always assumed people got tattoos that symbolize something significant or meaningful to them, but this was the first time I heard someone got a tattoo because they wanted one, but had no real meaning behind it. The one thing I did find interesting was the placement of her tattoo. She placed her tattoo behind her shoulder and she states she put it there because she can choose whether or not she wants to show it to everyone else. However something that I found fascinating and true was how she pointed out tattoos are marks on your bodies that people use to point you out. It becomes a permanent symbol that can be used to describe you. It makes you stand out from a crowd and that can be good and bad. I also found interesting was how she chose to leave it with black ink rather than to color the rose. She did not want to endure more pain so she left it plain like the meaning of her tattoo. The tattoo itself only took two hours but she advised me if I do decide to get a tattoo it is going to hurt a lot. My mom was away from her parents and when she finally visited them after two years they too spotted the tattoo. My grandma asked why she got a tattoo and she said she wanted one but she will not get another because of the pain. My grandma expected the tattoo since my mom worked in a store that sold the ink and that was what influenced her decision in getting a tattoo. Everyone who she was close with asked the same question as my grandma but they all accepted it in the end.

            Tattoos do not always have a deep meaning behind them. My mother in my eyes is one of those people who does not do things without having a good reason behind it. When I first spotted the tattoo I was anxious to hear why she did it. “I see tattoos as an art form and I wanted one at a point in my life so I did.” That was a bit surprising to hear from my mom. My mom always told me do not get a tattoo simply because she knows how people judge this form of art. As I questioned for the first time her tattoo I realized some things. My mom actually does not mind if I got a tattoo and her tattoo has the most basic meaning ever.

 I see tattoos as freedom of expression. However, when I say freedom of expression I usually expect something with meaning. I had the mentality of if you get something that’s going to be permanent make sure it has a good meaning so in the long run you won’t ever have to regret it. Everyone I have ever asked about their tattoos have told me something that gave meaning and worth to their tattoo except my mom. My mother’s tattoo didn't symbolize a memory or an event, nor did it tell a story. Seeing a rose I thought of love right away. I tried associating that to my mom but I was wrong. I couldn't understand why she would go through such pain to leave the tattoo incomplete and without real meaning. I learned that sometimes tattoos represent what it shows. I’m so accustomed to seeing a tattoo and right away thinking it’s some kind of puzzle that shows some kind of meaning to the wearer. My mom is from a Mexican culture where if you get a tattoo it is usually skulls, a spiritual icon, girls, or some kind of gangster image. When you see my mom’s tattoo I think you can’t really say she’s one of those bad people that like tattoos as society usually portraits people who like tattoos. Apart from that she’s one of the few that just considered drawing on her body. I believe that since I don’t have an interest in tattoos, I demand a meaningful response on what someone’s tattoo means. While someone who enjoys tattoos can tattoo something and enjoy it because it is what they love.  Being quick to judge can sometimes throw you off the real meaning of a tattoo. Some people just enjoy the art and that’s why I failed to understand my mom’s reason for getting a tattoo. It is like painting on a paper only you wear the art permanently on your body.