Cool at 21 but at 39? Not so much...

Yesterday as I was paying for my groceries, the cashier and bagger were having a conversation.  Both were teenage girls..my guess would be around 18.  They were talking about tattoos.  I so wanted to join the conversation but I willed myself not to.  Even though I can feel cool everyday of the week, to them, I am not.  I am a middle aged mom that just spent over hundred dollars on things like dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, Gogurt and Goldfish.  Also I don't want to look like weirdo. So I join their conversation in my head (which, shit, now makes me sound like a crazy weirdo.)

Bagger: I am thinking about something on my right upper chest.  With a shirt on, people won't even see it.
JCW: But you are going to eventually take your shirt off in front of someone?  How are you going to feel? Back in 1993, I had an amazing bod and thought a little embellishment would be fun.  It was either that or color my hair.  I can't explain that either/or but obviously I got the tattoo. It is only visible when I wear a bathing suit in public.  Cool at 21 but at 39?  Not so much..
Cashier: You know it will eventually sag.
JCW: Yes!  You are so right!  I swear my tattoo was an inch higher when I got it.  It is a small rose--why I chose it, I don't know.  But it is on my hip and now everytime I sit on the toilet, it disappears.  I never thought it would disappear. While I am in good shape, both my body and my ink are indeed weathered.
Bagger: It won't sag for a while.
JCW: It comes sooner than you think, trust me
Bagger:  Anyway, I want my dad to give his blessing.
Cashier: Such a daddy's girl..
JCW:  Unless your dad is named Ozzy, he is not going to be okay with it

I take my receipt and go.  I make eye contact with the girl..trying to send her a message to think about what she wants to do.  And then I quickly go..you know, don't want to be a weirdo.

I don't beat myself up over getting a tattoo.  And ironically, I have fleeting moments where I want to add to it, like the girls names.  But those thoughts fade and I just think about the girl who went to a place similar to hair salon to get the ink.  She decided to make small talk and asked where the artist learn his craft.  His response was "prison" she decided to cut the small talk.  It does make me chuckle..

What I didn't think about way back then was having children..how am I going to convince Laurel and Rachel that tattoos may not be the way to go?  Truth is, I won't be able to..and that is going to be awesome.