avatarJennifer Dunne

Summary

The author reflects on the impulsive tattoo decision of their cousin, who tattooed their partner's name on their body, and the complications that arose when the relationship ended, contrasting it with their own preference for temporary tattoos.

Abstract

The article narrates a personal anecdote where the author's cousin and his fiancée got matching tattoos of each other's names as a testament to their love, only to break up later. The couple faced the dilemma of having permanent reminders of their failed relationship, with the cousin opting to cover up the tattoo with a larger one instead of using more painful methods like skin scraping or modern laser removal. The author emphasizes their own inclination towards using temporary, erasable ink for tattoos to avoid a lifelong record of their choices. The piece is a response to a prompt about tattoo preferences and includes tagged references to other related articles on Medium.

Opinions

  • The author understands the appeal of erasable ink for tattoos, implying a preference for impermanence in body art due to the potential for regret.
  • There is an underlying tone of skepticism regarding the cousin's decision to get a permanent tattoo as a symbol of love, especially given the volatility of relationships.
  • The author seems to value the ability to change and not be bound by past decisions, as indicated by the desire for tattoos that can be removed or altered.
  • The piece suggests that the author is in favor of practical solutions to personal mistakes, such as covering up a tattoo with another instead of undergoing a more arduous removal process.

My Cousin Got a Tattoo

I understand why they invented erasable ink

Photo by Cory Woodward on Unsplash

My cousin and his fiancee tattooed each other’s names across their stomachs to show their everlasting love. Then, they hopped on his motorcycle and drove to Vegas.

Later, when their relationship started having problems, it turned out they hadn’t gotten married after all. The bike had broken down on the way, and they used the wedding/honeymoon money for repairs.

They broke up. She needed to find another guy named John. Not a terribly difficult task.

He had to find someone named “Edyth”. He covered it with a bigger tattoo. The other choice was scraping the skin off (now they use lasers).

If I ever got a tattoo, I’d use the ink that breaks up when exposed to black light. I don’t want a permanent record of my mistakes, thank you very much.

A response to:

Tagging: Nia Simone McLeod, Barbara Dalton, B.R. Shenoy, Luke DeLalio

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