Aging: Tattoo Edition
Years ago, I was sitting in a cafe, and this woman sat down at the table next to me. She looked like she was in her 70’s but something about her struck me. I thought to myself “Oh my god. I want to look just like her when I’m 70!” She had on large sunglasses (that didn’t come off the whole time she was sitting there), a silk headscarf, short silver wavy hair styled up and wrapped in the beautiful scarf… and she was covered in tattoos. I couldn't resist, I kept staring at her, praying that she wouldn’t see me look. But she was so comfortable in her skin. She was so cool and elegant, and said so much through her style even though she didn’t say anything at all.
This woman looked like she carried her tattoos like an armour. Sometimes I feel the same way about mine. They shield you form what preconceived notions other people have, and at the same time they narrow down the perception of who you could be. Tattoos can say to the world - Yes, this is me, I can endure pain, I am confident in my decisions, and comfortable in my skin. What I put on my body will age, and that’s okay because I will age with it.
That’s one of the most beautiful things about tattoos. They will never look more beautiful than they do right now. As they age and fade, they tell a story of a time in your life when you were feeling something that compelled you to place this art right here, and express yourself in this way. And as they fade, that time gets further and further away, but the reminder is still there, fading but never gone.
To me, faded tattoos are so fascinating. I absolutely love the way they look. Personally unless it’s absolutely necessary, I don’t really get touch ups, because I don’t want to disturb the ink, I want to see how it behaves over time and see the lines get a little lighter and a little duller. The more they fade, the more like a time capsule they become - of the moment that compelled you to get this tattoo, what you were up to then, where you were in life, and the relationships you had. The reminder can be painful, beautiful, or triumphant because today you may be in a better place, with better company, and have achieved so much more than you ever thought you could.
I didn’t get a good look at the woman’s tattoos, but I’m sure they told a story of a wonderful life.
