My Octopus Tattoo Continues

Martin continues to be revealed on my leg. Eric spent another two hours last Thursday working on Martin’s head. This week I’ll sit for more work on the tentacles and the water. At some point, the other side will be begun.

My attitudes about tattooing keep changing. I once wrote that I liked the process of getting tattooed, and this is very true, but there is something about the finality of the work that I like too. A finished tattoo is evidence of accomplishment.

When I was in college, before the tattooing started, I ate very hot Indian food in Amherst. Unfortunately, the place where I used to eat has been overtaken by a coffee shop. The process of eating hot food was like a meditation. It took time and energy and focus to finish a plate of blazing food. I had to gather myself to properly approach the meal. Seeing the empty dish was evidence of an accomplishment. Here I had done something that few other people had.

Tattooing creates the same feeling. Seeing this image appear on my leg is a sign of accomplishment, evidence that I sat through the pain (although it really isn’t that painful, particularly on the leg). For some reason, I crave accomplishment in this form.

This post is too long.