Peer Pressure is Forever

My good, dear friend The Chick is vacationing at the beach with her family. (for those of you on the west coast, in the middle of the country, or just not accustomed to the culture of the American South - we don't spend a "day" at the beach. A weekend is the very minimum - a week is best. And, frankly, you need a week to get totally fried - with sun AND booze - drink lots of sea water as you attempt to "surf" 2 foot waves without a board, and marvel that a sunrise and sunset can be even more beautiful over the ocean.)

Lest a week at the beach isn't enough, The Chick has planned a bit of a getaway for several friends who, although diverse in background, enjoy similar tastes in drinks for later this summer.

This is all leading up to something. I promise. The Chick and her dear husband bantered about getting tattoos while they were driving to their beach destination. And, the conversation has continued during the week. Now, The Chick and her Husband are both 30 somethings - and for all appearances, responsible adults. But, they are also pretty cool and fun. So, I totally see the temptation to get tattoos for them.

However, The Chick isn't entirely sure she wants her first tat experience to be with her Husband. She called the other day to see how seriously I'd take the idea of WE getting tats during our drinking binge later this summer. She even knows what I should get. But, the problem is she doesn't know what she should get.

This is the problem . . . first, I can't imagine anything I'd still think was cool or clever 45 years from now. Second, I'd want it some place where it wouldn't be a point of conversation with every human I encounter - but then, I wouldn't want the tattooist to see any place I'd be willing to put it either.

But, I do know - that I'm far more likely to cave to the peer pressure of the Chick than I would the Phenom.

I have a friend who says that at the end of your life, all you really have left are your stories. We have justified many a stupid, potentially crippling act on this logic. This would be a story, that's for sure.