Yes, it's real. Yes, it hurt. No, it doesn't come off.

Yesterday, I got a tattoo. Yes, syncopal ol' me got inked. It's nothing ginormous, but it's not exactly what I would call "small" either. It's about 2 square inches, maybe a little more, on the inner aspect of my left forearm, just distal to the elbow joint.

It's a simple, black "classical" labyrinth. I've been kicking around getting a tattoo for the better part of 15 years, seriously for the last 10 or so. In that time, I've gone through several iterations of what I thought I would want, but nothing was ever important or signifigant enough to me that I was willing to permanently emblazon it on my body. However, the labyrinth design is emblematical of a journey, often spiritual in nature, and almost always turning "inward" to examine one's own soul or spirit. Being that I've been in that sort of mode (being inward, spiritual journey or examination) for most of my life, I decided that it was suitable.

The artist, Ryein (sp?) came recommended by one of my wife's coworkers, who has several pieces by him and has known him "since way back when". The work that she just had done by him was nice, which was a big selling point.
We went in to the shop the other day, and Kristen spoke with Ryein briefly to get a feel for if she was really going to get one, after talking about it for more than a dozen years. (Me getting ink was actually an after-thought, not exactly a main focus of the trip in)

Yes, it's real. Yes, it hurt. No, it doesn't come off.

(update: 16 MAR 2007) I've discovered, though, that it's not only decorative, but practical for me, as an "always available" meditation aid.  I work with a couple of people who, frankly, test my ability to be civil, particularly when they're having one of those days.  This little bit of art is a handy grounding point as I visually "walk" the labyrinth.

I've also discovered that tattoos are like potato chips.  Once you have one, you want more.  I guess that it's better than booze or drugs, at least.  Not in that tattoos are less expensive, but the safety and social ramifications are much less  potentially damaging. :)