I share with other boomers a prejudice against tattoos. What better remedy than the giant tattoo exhibit in the Cow Palace?

Twenty dollars parking, or stay in the streets, which did not look like a place for my beautiful ruby-red scooter. Twenty dollars in addition to admission seems stiff.

But: they waved me through at the gate, because I was a biker! Great omen.

The ticket lady asks cheerfully:

“Are you gonna get one?”

Which to my shame I negated as emphatically as one might an offer to try alligator wrestling. She is disappointed. On my way to being frisked at the entrance I think of the many phrases and facial expressions I could have deployed for my answer without giving away my prejudice.

Having left my knives below my scooter seat the bouncers allow me to enter the enormous hall.

Though no cameras are allowed, the bouncers outside explain that smartphones aren’t real cameras. So, I go to town with photos.

Obviously, tattoo acquisition opportunities…

And five categories of tattoos:

1. Religious iconography
2. Horror
3. Machismo
4. Fantasy/Mythology
5. Art
6. Portraiture

Here we go:

Religion:

Horror:

I get increasingly brazen about taking photos, until finally, a guy from the booth steps up to me.

“Here I go,” I think. “Out of the hall, maybe without my phone.”

“You like these?” he asks eagerly. “That’s my work.”

Machismo:

That is my experience at the event. These are artists who care deeply about their craft. You won’t see anchors, or mermaids at this show.

Fantasy/Mythology:

Art:

Portraiture:

One young woman from Redding wears a tattoo on her throat. Since I would be photographing her body, I ask permission. She demurs, and thanks me for checking. I am still angry with myself for not asking the obvious: is she concerned about safety, or copyright? I’ll never know.

Did my attitude towards tattoos budge a bit? Yes. Will I get one? Heavens no!!!