A tattoo that's more than just skin deep

The dictionary describes a tattoo in the following manner, "to puncture [the skin] with a needle and insert indelible colors so as to leave permanent marks or designs." As a U.S. Navy Sailor from the World War II era, I spent several months in the huge naval bases of Norfolk, Va. I recall tattoo parlors while on liberty, but never had a desire to be tattooed. I checked with my long time shipmate, Al Carkin of Massachusetts, and neither of us recalls any of our crew of 110 having a tattoo.
The rage in those days would have been voluptuous babes on forearms. Today, tattoo parlors are the rage and I see many young women so adorned. I feel it takes guts to brand yourself. I know several attractive young ladies with eye catching tattoos. Nancy sports Betty Boop, Carol has a butterfly and Bobbi chose a set of Gemini twins, her zodiac sign.
Dragons
Another friend, Scott, is into tattoos big time. He has gotten an intricate array of tattoos over the years, costing thousands of dollars. They reflect his interest in Chinese zodiac signs and dragons.
As an octogenarian, I am taking a few gambles late in life, like my first motorcycle ride last year with Nancy and Betty Boop. When I spot eye-catching tattoos, I start conversations with the owners, and that has proved to be very interesting. We are never too old or too smart to learn.
I will pass on being tattooed as one of life's unique challenges, but will still continue to be on the lookout for those adorning young women. Tattoos are more than skin deep and are one of the few things you can take with you on life's departure.
Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree and an member of the Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.