I N D A

From signs of fertility to talismans of protection at war, tattoos have been used throughout human existence by different cultures for a variety of reasons. I know many people with tattoos. My ex husband and youth friend is covered with small tattoos he's collected which signify different stages of his teenage years. Off-course, he’s a musician artist type. But my brother in law the dentist has one, and so does his sister the accountant. I live in the Bay Area, where just about everybody has at least one (usually many), and there’s a tattoo shop about every other block. So the thought of getting one has crossed my mind on many occasions for the same reason: as a symbol of individuality — of being a creative in a culture lead by suits, bar codes, and credit card numbers. So what has kept me from getting one? My profession is in the realm of the arts where tattoos are fully embraced. Well, the truth is that it just feels so permanent . Throughout my life I have grown-out or evol