Beauty is skin deep. A tattoo goes all the way to the bone. **

Quite often, I've given thought to getting a tattoo. A small one. A respectable one. A few times I've been in the parlor watching my friends get one and almost went through with it, but then I've backed off at the last minute. It's perhaps the whole permanency thing that bothers me. That, oh, and something about pain, as well.

I love the idea of little cat paws somewhere fairly obscure. I mean, how cute is that? And you know how I feel about cats. And no, despite the recent barrage of reality-tv posts from me, I do not toy with the idea of stamping the "Big Brother" logo, or a 'final rose' on my ass. Really.

My ever-fluffing frame has made me question the idea of placement. There's nothing that needs stamping and stretching out on any of my parts. However, perhaps the 'fluff' would help with the pain? I mean, it makes sense that sticking a needle into a wad of fat would hurt much, much less than doing so into a thin layering of skin right over the bone, doesn't it? Perhaps I'm a perfect candidate for this art form after all?

It's quite a mental process. First, you have to settle with the fact that you're going to actually dooooo it. Then, there is the all-important task of what you want inked on your parts forevermore. Originally I had toyed with a tiny daisy or a ladybug and the placement would be on my ankle. Recently, though, I have given considerable thought to one that will be a token or symbol of my father's memory. Thinking of what I want stamped to commemorate him is much more difficult than deciding on the size of ladybug...

My friend Darren has one going down his calf muscle; it consists of Chinese symbols, and says, "like Father, like Son". I love that. It's not obvious. It's not, "Father" with roses and crosses intertwined through it. It's something Darren can share privately... 'spose until he travels China :). So, the idea of mimicking him with a phrase in symbol is a contender. I also thought of a picture that immediately spoke him... He was a lover of the sea, and a member of the Canadian Navy. His father was a lighthouse keeper, and anytime I see a lighthouse I think of him. I have, and will forever describe him as being my Guardian Angel. He died of cancer.

All those words of brainstorm bring up several ideas:
-Chinese symbol for "Father", "Daddy", "My Dad, my Hero", "Daddy's girl"
-an ocean wave
-the Canadian Navy logo consisting of an anchor & crown
-a small anchor alone
-a small lighthouse, or light beam
-a pair of angel wings in-between a heart, with a halo over top of it
-a yellow ribbon

I just can't seem to come to a clear decision. I'm doubtful that I'll be overly popular if I land into the tattoo parlor with my aforementioned list, requesting they come up with something that includes all of them ;). Whatcha think, people?

**Quote by Vince Hemingson