Page 1112 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Other designs are to be avoided, however. There are superstitions 19
about life and death in the world of ink. She tries to caution people

against getting tattoos of the objects of romantic interest. She does

this because of the mutability of human affection—“I mean, you’re

pretty much branding yourself,” she says. But she also believes that

tattoos of living sweethearts are bad luck. She’s talked people out of

getting the names of girlfriends, and even husbands and wives. “I’m
like, ‘don’t do it, dude,’ ” she says, and Eric, the guy under her needle

at this moment, chuckles.

“I think it’s bad juju to get a name,” he says. 20

“It is!” 21

What about sons and daughters? Nieces? 22

Those are fine, says Sarah. 23

But Eric doesn’t agree. He says that the same tattoo that connects 24

you permanently with the soul of the departed can sever you in this

life. He puts enough credence in the superstition to avoid any but

oblique references to the living in any of his tattoos; hence today’s

horses on his shoulder. He has no intention of letting go of his
newborn daughter just yet.

Tattooing culture in this country can be traced back to that of 25

European sailors, whose capricious world was bedecked in

superstition. It makes sense; humanity’s storied view of the sea has