Tuesday  Sep 27, 2005

Justing Pelegano's Tattoo Stories - "Voucher"

There’s no way I’ll sit here and write condoning the tattooing of minors.

There are obvious health issues to consider, since underage ink likely means hunting down a non-legit slinger who is unlicensed and unfamiliar with the ways of the autoclave. We can thank Mayor Rudolph Giuliani here in NYC for legalizing tattooing and allowing shops and artists to get strict with their regulations and health standards. And I’ve been in the chair on more than one occasion since, eavesdropping as steely-spined receptionists firmly turn away the too young. And cheers to that.

That said, Celeste sat for her first tat at age seventeen. With her Mom. Who vouched for her as an eighteen-year-old. My mom would have laughed in my face, but that’s something else. And as first tattoos many times are, Celeste’s was symbolic of accomplishment and a marker for her life to come:

“I was graduating [high school] a year earlier than the other people in my age group. I had skipped second grade…so it was this big step in my life. I was about to move out, move on. So my Mom and I thought it would be cool to commemorate it.”

And lo and behold, Celeste wasn’t the only one jonesing for some ink.

“It turns out Mom always wanted [a tattoo] but never had a reason to get one, so we went for it. I got a ladybug on my stomach, and she got an angel on her shoulder. I remember having to hold her hand and convince her that her ear was an accupressure point. We were rubbing the inside of her ear and telling her it would calm her down. I don’t know if it worked, but she didn’t freak out.”

Six years later, Celeste doesn’t really notice her ladybug tat all that much anymore, but she does remember the day it hit her skin. She remembers her Mom (her own personal voucher) and the story behind it all. Even after she did move out, even after she and her Mom went through a subsequent rough patch in their relationship (“We didn’t talk or have any kind of contact for more than a year.”)…well, after it all, there’s this story. And so while it sounds grandiose, maybe it’s actually fair to say that some tattoos lend perspective. All it takes is one good glance at that ink. Just one. Maybe one in a million. And maybe that can be enough.

“[My Mom and I] have since made up… She respects my decisions now, and I’ve very happy about that. We’re both better for it.”

More good news: Celeste is gearing up for some new, big time, ink. “I want half-sleeves and a yoke across my back linking the two. I’ve been designing them for years.”

Do it to it. And this time, no voucher needed. Be healthy.

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