Excited about my
new discovery, I raced home to inform my siblings. We could get a tattoo with a
pencil! A permanent o, not all those temporary ones. We could write anything we
wanted and flaunt it anywhere. I just learnt it and I was proud to be the messenger.
Needless to say,
my siblings (Mostly made of my cousins and extended family) listened with
interest. I can not remember if we persuaded him or he volunteered, but my
older cousin, Sina, decided to offer his body for practical.
I grabbed a
pencil and started, little devil that I was, and started writing the first
letter. It was not as easy as the hype, so I increased my intensity. I kept
increasing the intensity till it was obvious to us all that what I was doing
was inflicting serious pain.
Let it suffice
to say that I did not even finish the first letter. It was too much pain. We
found out later that it would never be as lovely as we dreamed of it. No, we
would actually be nursing a wound for a while. *Recalls with sad amusement* I left my cousin scarred for life.
Just kidding; the scar is gone now… or at least you have to look really close
to see it.
Aloha, Amigos!
I miss those
days of innocence, you know. Those days when we knew virtually nothing in the
world. The days when a full stomach, long hours of play, and peaceful sleeps
was our idea of dreams come true. You know, we used to see a new day as so
bright and ready to explore.
Then, we started
going to school. I never cried to school, but I still know many kids did.
Didn’t you cry to school when you were a kid? Speak the truth; I wouldn’t laugh
at you. Anyway, we got used to our pencils, fascinated by the lead. We
later got bored and could not wait to use the ink...
Those were the
days when lead and ink are writing materials. These days,
we hear of people loading someone full of lead – Bullets, Mates; Bullets! I
thought that was the end until we started noticing guys everywhere are getting
more of the ink…Tattoos.
*Sighs*
Tattoos are
everywhere. Doubt it? Look around you. Wait; why not even look at yourself
first? *Checking out myself* No
qualms. Tattoos are considered to be a part of fashion. And do not let the past
generation try to deceive us – They started the whole thing.
I see many
people accuse this generation of being ‘wayward’. We tattoo our body (No, not
me. Just referring to the generation as a whole, which of course I am one of)
and do a lot of other ‘unthinkable’ things.
Lol! Talk of Pot calling the kettle black.
Those ol’ mamas
started the whole things jare. You
see all those usually ugly inscriptions on their arms and bellies? Well, those
are the cool tattoos of their days. You would be seeing their big boys with
their dansiki sashaying across and
making sure everyone notices the ‘sexy’ Lizard crudely drawn on their Biceps.
At least we are neater.
So, does that
mean I actually believe Tattoos are alright? No; far from it.
I am not one of the glasses-on-nosestick
‘Professors’ who would scream “Tattoos are ugly”. I have never loved hypocrisy.
So, I would stay blunt as usual. I have found some Tattoos very sexy. Tattoos
could also be very beautiful.
I used to have a
girlfriend. When I noticed her tattoo, I had mixed feelings – I was not pleased
with the idea, yet I am very drawn to that Arrow-Shot love on her arm. She did
not know. We never mentioned it. We probably never will now.
Onward!
So, what do I
really think about Tattoos?
1.
Tattoos are okay for big boys and girls:
There would
always be a group of people who would want to do the things they perceive the
‘cool’ guys all over the world are doing some ‘cool’ things, and they would
actually become ‘cooler’ by following this trend.
Well, these
people may look cool, but until they change their mentality, they are not
FantaFab. And if you are not, well, you could get tattooed. However, I would
not recommend it.
2.
FantaFab Men and Ladies do not Tattoo:
Why? Because
they have Bigger things to invest in. Bigger dreams to turn to reality. Less
time to follow trends. More time to take charge. Greater things in life
to work for. Greater Coolness than Tattoo could ever offer.
3.
God does not want us to:
Lol, I got some
people here. Many would lift up their chins and brag about how God did not tell
us not to do this or not to do that. They would talk about how God did not
mention Tattoos and all that. Well, God mentioned this and he was clear about
it. He does not approve of it. Tshikena!
4.
Medically Your Enemy:
There are many
health risks associated with Tattoos, and I am not referring to just HIV/AIDS
here. The process of introducing these various inks into your bloodstreams
could actually cause severe irritation. Trust me; you want to keep your body as
healthy as it could ever be.
5.
Socially Your Adversary:
Our mothers have
been telling us for decades that we should not judge the book by its cover. Yet
everyday, we see ourselves making long-term decisions based on the first
impressions we get of people we meet. There is a reason why the eyes are placed
before the brain and the ears.
That is, before
we hear who you are, we would have seen who you are. Like the wise would say,
people might pretend as if they do not care whether you have a tattoo on or
not, but you can be assured that that is what they are looking at. And it is
usually not in good faith.
6.
Not Career-Sensible
Now, unless you
are in a club binging (Something FantaFab people do not do – the binging part),
where else would you fully recommend someone with a tattoo? Surely not for a
big project.
And as an
employee, even if you have a tattoo, you would still find yourself having a rethink
when the applicant staring right at you has this tattoo along with his CV,
wouldn’t you?
So, What I am saying is,
no matter what, it pays not to have the Tattoo in the first place. Not just for
now, but as well as for the future… And those of your descendants. Live a Great
Life. Stay off Tattoos.
OVER TO YOU: What do you
honestly think about Tattoos?
