If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would you choose? [Ladies of Hive #66 Contest]

I've been following the @ladiesofhive community for a long time, and often mean to take part in their contests, since I find they have interesting questions over there. Anyway, I usually find out about them just as they're about to end, or completely forget to take part in them. So today, seeing the latest post from this wonderful community, I figured here's my chance.

This week, the question that drew my eye was:

If you had to get a tattoo right now, what tattoo would you choose?

As some of you will know, I'm a big fan of tattoos already, and have quite a few. But it's been a long time since I was last inked (2017, I think it was), and I'm feeling the call, again. I actually got it into my head to get fresh ink a year ago, but because of the cold, and restrictions, and what not, I ended up not getting tattooed, which I think was for the best. I figure, since I didn't go through with it, I probably didn't want it as bad as I thought, and I think you should only get tattoos you really want, and of something that is meaningful.

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

For me, that has been either something that has stood the test of time, or that had such profound impact on my life, and is somehow deeply connected with my personal history. All of my tattoos, I can trace back to a particularly significant event, or period in my life, and I would like to keep that tradition.

See, I don't really believe in this regretting crap, largely because I figure regrets are pointless. See, the way I see it, unless you're getting a tattoo of Madonna taking a dump, then you're probably alright (and if you are, why?). Many people I've talked to have shared this fear, that they won't feel as strongly about a particular thing in the future, and might end up resenting the tattoo.

Well, first off, if you feel that way before getting a tattoo, then maybe it's best you don't. Because it seems you don't feel that strongly about so-and-so object/person/event to begin with, and maybe it's not such a good idea to have them permanently on your body.

But if you do, then why not get it?

(We're excluding, for the sake of argument, people who get tattoos of the name of their first sweetheart, because Johnny Depp's "Wino Forever" tattoo should teach us all a lesson)

Obviously, you won't always feel things the exact same way as you do now. People change, and that's normal. Personally, I don't feel the same way about my tattoos as I did when I got them, but that's not to say I regret them. Not at all. They're a significant part of me, and as I said, tied to key moments in my life. But I don't feel the same, because to live is to change. That doesn't make the emotion you have now any less real.

So, getting back to the Ladies of Hive question,

If you had to get a tattoo right now, what tattoo would you choose?

I would probably get something relating to the best story ever written, in my humble opinion, Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood", a play for radio (or as he called it, a play for voices). I'm actually planning a tattoo on this theme for next month, so this topic came at an excellent moment.

As for what exactly I would get, either a few words from the opening monologue, or something from the end. There is a particular fragment about time passing, and it would probably be something along those lines, along with a sea design of some sort (since the sea features prominently in the play).

But why?

The question all tattooed people must head, sooner or later (not must answer, mind, because it's perfectly reasonable to ignore such impolite questions). But since I'm the one asking, I think I might make an exception. Because when I discovered this play, I was obsessed with it for several months. Listening to it every single night kind of obsessed. Because it's occupied a very special place in my heart, for the past 6-7 years. Because it was such an immense part of who I was at the age I discovered it.
Because as a writer, I still make no secret of adoring it, because it is the single best introduction into a story that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Unfortunately, my answer to the question takes some liberties. If I had to be tattooed right this second, I would probably just opt for a line from the play, with the visuals to be added later, since I still haven't decided. If, however, we're taking a more liberal approach to time, as in early February "right now", then I plan on having the design figured out by then, and on sharing it on Hive.

Now, I hope I'm doing this right, and not forgetting to add/tag anything. I know I'm also supposed to invite another Hive lady, so I'm asking my mother, @ladyrebecca, who's not active, but still lurking out there somewhere.

This is actually NOT my favorite version of UMW, but this one's on YouTube, and had Richard Burton in it (who was actually a huge fan of Dylan Thomas himself, and actually insisted on being buried with a copy of the man's poems), so it's pretty great.*