On Friday, I overheard an endearing little conversation between a mother and her young 
daughter. A glance showed the girl to be about 4 I’d guess; her mother in her 30s. The girl was anxious and scared by a man she’d seen who had “so many tattoos!”
Her mom asked her if it was just the tattoos that made him look scary. The girl admitted yes, it was just that there were so many, all over his arms. The mom tried to explain that tattoos were nothing to be scared of, they were just pictures (“there were dead people!” — skulls maybe?) but the girl was having none of that.
The mom paused for a moment then shifted the perspective. “What if,” she asked, “that scary tattooed guy was really frightened by little red-haired girls?”
I could almost hear the girl’s eyes widen, “You think so? You think he got the tattoos to keep me away?” The mom said it could be true, and just like that the girl’s whole demeanor shifted and she changed the subject to talk about a project at school.
I wonder if she would find me scary, too?
Inside the last six months, I’ve added 3 tattoos to my body, and I know I want more. My last one, Pan has proven difficult to hide now that short-sleeve weather has arrived but my new one is even more visible as it’s on my forearm — and it’s creepy. 
This little guy is a Tooth Fairy from Hellboy II. Kiddo always thought the Tooth Fairy was a sadistic little monster, taking kids’ teeth and jamming them in infants’ mouths, so when I saw these calcium-hungry little beasts, I smiled. I also love both the artists that came up with the concept — Mike Mignola and Guillermo Del Toro — so it was an easy YES when Jesse posted the art a few days ago asking who wanted it.
As much as I don’t want to scare little kids, I’m completely happy with my decisions, even if it means I will be explaining them to (at least) half the people I encounter. I find it hard to curb my habit of buying “things” — especially when I have nowhere to put anything! — but putting my money toward tattoos means I can buy art and carry it with me always.