Many, many years ago I woke up one Sunday morning in my barracks at Keesler AFB with a tremendous headache and a tattoo on my right upper arm. The occasion of my first Saturday night town pass into Biloxi, Mississippi wrought the same two symptoms that thousands of young trainees suffered after their first night in town; one temporary -- but the other one permanent and life long!
I was the lucky one - my tattoo, comprised of a flying American Eagle and the initials, U.S.A.F, was not attention getting, obscene, nor personalized. Of the two barracks mates that accompanied me on my foray, one sported a cobra twisting down his forearm and the other had his hometown girlfriends name emblazoned forever inside a heart on his forearm as well. At least mine is covered by a short sleeve shirt. I lost track of these two fellow radio operator trainees, but sure hope the one went home and married the gal whose name he sported. I often thought that his future girl friends wouldn't be impressed with the previous girl friends name lined out and their names added underneath.
I am told now that a similar rite of passage is popular with young ladies. A flowery, feminine tattoo engraved forever on their young bodies in some private place. The most popular location I am told, is immediately over the coccyx - where their alternate cleavage begins. While I can understand their desire to strike a blow for independence, I have to question the wisdom of forever placing that which is now being called a "Tramp Stamp" on their still young and cute butts. As those diminuative derrieres become 'wide loads' with age and good living, those flowers and little angels blowing trumpets will remain, faded and rather silly looking, but still in view on occasion --- picture Plumber's Cleavage in middle age.
I was the lucky one - my tattoo, comprised of a flying American Eagle and the initials, U.S.A.F, was not attention getting, obscene, nor personalized. Of the two barracks mates that accompanied me on my foray, one sported a cobra twisting down his forearm and the other had his hometown girlfriends name emblazoned forever inside a heart on his forearm as well. At least mine is covered by a short sleeve shirt. I lost track of these two fellow radio operator trainees, but sure hope the one went home and married the gal whose name he sported. I often thought that his future girl friends wouldn't be impressed with the previous girl friends name lined out and their names added underneath.
I am told now that a similar rite of passage is popular with young ladies. A flowery, feminine tattoo engraved forever on their young bodies in some private place. The most popular location I am told, is immediately over the coccyx - where their alternate cleavage begins. While I can understand their desire to strike a blow for independence, I have to question the wisdom of forever placing that which is now being called a "Tramp Stamp" on their still young and cute butts. As those diminuative derrieres become 'wide loads' with age and good living, those flowers and little angels blowing trumpets will remain, faded and rather silly looking, but still in view on occasion --- picture Plumber's Cleavage in middle age.
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