Tattoos

1/30 days of writing challenge

I have a visible tattoo on my upper inside left arm. When I wear a tank top or a short sleeve shirt it peaks out.

“What is your tattoo?”

“Did you design it?”

“What does it mean?”

“Why a sewing machine?”

When I am in a new place I get these questions daily. I understand. I would ask too.

But somehow, before I got the tattoo I had no idea how much attention it would get.

So here are the answers to these questions.

The tattoo is a sewing machine with a half mandala (a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism) under it and a chandelier detail coming off the mandala.

Some people think it looks like a sewing machine sitting on a table that is covered by a quilt. It isn’t, but art is art and whatever they see is fine.

I don’t quilt. Which blows peoples’ minds. To the general population sewing=quilting.

Anyway, back to the tattoo. I did design it. I had been planning it for over a year before I finally decided to get it done.

What does it mean? This question is harder for me to answer. I don’t think tattoos have to have a deep meaning. I usually just say “I sew” and I am amused by the faces people make to this simple reply. People want a story. They want the tattoo to represent “all the seamstresses in your bloodline who didn’t make it through the war” or some such. It’s not that deep. I sew and my grandmothers both sewed. I think it is a valuable skill.

I am not sure what people expect these days of tattoos. I guess if the tattoo was a quote, an animal, or some flowers it might get me less questions. Those are expected and usual. Although I am sure “what does it mean?” Is something that anyone with a visible tattoo gets asked.

So if you have a tattoo, tell me in the comments

– What is it?

– Did you design it?

– What does it mean?

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