March 30, 2005
News in Dan-land
A bird built a nest in the gutter just outside the window beside my bed. She wakes me most every morning around sunrise but today was also the sound of tiny chirping baby birds.
Speaking of babies, Rachel, now being of legal age, has finally gotten the tattoo she has wanted for so long. Tattoos are so trendy for this generation, I imagine that tattoo removal services will be a profitable business in the coming decades.
Amazingly fine weather here yesterday and today, sure made for a pleasant bike ride this morning. Old friend, cycling partner and mentor, Dr. Pfeiffer is visiting this week from San Diego. He brought his bike so we cruised around the 65-mile Walton County Loop on this fine day. He plans to join GTC on this Saturday's "Ronde Van de Appalachee" spring classic ride.
Dan,
I always advise those interested in tattoos to wait until age 25 to get one. If they make it to there I suggest 30. At that point I think it's a safe bet that the images inked will be deep and meaningful, the soul writ large on the skin, versus something that will fade in soul value.
Before I ever got ink I learned so much about the history of the art and what the archaic purpose of tattooing was, above and beyond, mere decoration. It's a powerful thing but I agree that many of the butterfly/heart/kanji pieces will be fodder for removal in a few years.
On another note, when we pruned the trees at Sugarloaf I kept having very powerful trascendent experiences as well as deep foreboding with overtones of Native American energy. Finally, high in a white oak I was doing a simple reposition procedure and knocked half my front tooth off. After that I refused to go back. Although I did go in one afternoon and burn sage. In the process I found some stone mounds and saw others that had been hastily destroyed.
Hope to see your rear wheel fade into the distance on Saturday. :)
Peace,
Steven
Posted by: Steven B. at March 31, 2005 10:22 AMSteven, Your tattoo age recomendations are sensible. My Mom used to say the same thing about marriage, I'm pretty sure she was correct also.
A funny but true quote:
"I'm no longer young enough to know everything."