Devious6

Watch it now!!! I may be 61 but I am not old!!! Age is just a number...granted mine is a pretty big number. lol

Got my first just a little over a month ago - but at 61, retired Army officer and current college president I'm not in the usual group of folks most people think of getting a tattoo. Mine is not visible unless I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt. As people have learned about my first foray, they've been very positive. I get some of the "why would you do that?" One colleague asked if I was going to start drinking shots of whiskey again/ My response? I never stopped.

Very nice! Welcome!

Despite serving 26 years on active duty in the Army, we've never been to Hawaii - need to add that to my bucket list. Lynn and I have fallen in love with a resort on the island of Antigua - Galley Bay. Spent our 25th, 26th, 40th and 41st wedding anniversaries there...and hope to go back this year for our 42nd. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate this weekend so the Hot Air Balloon company we crew for can get in a flight. I need the fresh air and exercise!!

Someone has to do it, Dan. Just suck it up and try to enjoy it.

Welcome to the forum!!

Wow! Great progress and it looks amazing so far!

I think that's a great point and I wholly agree.

Awesome!! That is some amazing work!!

These are our two girls, taken a few months ago. Duffy, our female Black Lab is 6 years old. Sunny, our female Yellow will be 1 year old tomorrow.

I travelled the world for 26 years before retiring from the Army. Now I'm content to stay local and work with the artist I've found here that I like and trust. But, who knows? Maybe the Fates will tempt me at some point? At least I have fewer years left for any possible regrets!!!

Both sleeves are gorgeous! ANd your wife's leg piece is also beautiful! Congratulations to you both!

They are both exceptional, but I have to admit the black and red contrast of your wife's sleeve is stunning.

Having started so late in life, I know that I won't be getting more than a few tattoos and, perhaps, just one more. So, I won't rise to the level of collector. As with the first, my next will have specific life meaning as opposed to approaching it from the art perspective. But, as others have said, it doesn't matter what approach you take. The works you have and want are yours and reflective of your desires and personality. Enjoy them no matter what brought you to get them.

I can't offer any advice - but it certainly seems to be an allergic reaction and should respond to the steroid and antihistamine combo. In any case, congratulations on your upcoming marriage and I really like the rework!

Sorry you are going through all this with your Dad. Unfortunately, many people let their own prejudices, likes and dislikes get in the way of meaningful discussions and relationships. What I love about what you write is that you are obviously happy and confident with who you are. Lots of people never get to that point. Never lose that. People who are true friends and who love you won't impose their own beliefs on you - they may not agree with you but they accept that you have the same right to your beliefs as they. As a (as of today) 61 year old, and president of a small college, I get lots of my staff, faculty and students wanting to know if my tattoo is real or not. They want to see it to be convinced. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. I was at an event last evening out in the community and I had several people asking, again, if I really did it or if it was fake. Too funny. My wife just rolls her eyes and smiles.

I haven't been to Tulsa since the 80s when I was assigned to Fort Sill in Lawton. My birthday is tomorrow - would love to be there to get some birthday ink! Although my first one from a month ago was my birthday present from Lynn.

Nice!! Love that classic design!!

Welcome to the forum!

The hair is definitely a part of the itch - at least it was/is for me, too. I know that the peeling skin but it is aggravated by the hair growth. Two days after my touch up work and shading and the hairs bother me much more than the inked areas. Oboogie is right, though. Slap it!

Mine is now 5 weeks old with a lot of heavy black. The intensity faded a bit during healing but then came back to almost full intensity at about 4 weeks. I just had some touch up done on Tuesday and it is very hard to distinguish the old from the new - actually I can't tell every place he touched up. So, my guess is that you will be able to see a difference between them new and old.

By the way, I have enjoyed my short time here so much and received such good info/advice that I made a donation to support the Forum the other day. Happy to be a part of the community!

I've had the same issue with "likes." Only get 10 a day.

Went in for some shading to finish my first tattoo on Tuesday. My artist commented that it had healed really well but that he wanted to touch up a few places where the black tribal lines were not uniformly colored. He did that first, then added the minimal shading around the lines we agreed on. We talked a bit about my "next" piece - my right upper arm probably this fall with the summer pool season coming - and then walked out to the receptionist/cashier. He shook my hand and told me there was no charge, that he saw the shading as part of the original price. I fully expected to pay for that since we didn't discuss it up front - and I gave him a good tip as I left. Here's a pic taken right after removing the wrap before the first cleaning. I'll post a better one once it's healed - this one shows a lot of red irritation where the gray shading was added. In any case, I am really happy with my first tattoo - it reflects what I wanted and has great symbolism for me. It is also my 61st birthday present from my wife - my birthday is Saturday. Now to plan for the next!

I still haven't found my photos and it seems there are coding issues in the profile design. I'm sure it will take a few days to get it all sorted out.