I have admired many tattoos over the years. And always wanted one. I managed to make it through my 20 year Naval career unmarked. I saw too many get things they hated or were mistakes. I have scars aplenty, dog bites, road rash, knee replacement and back surgery from a bicycle crash, destroying my T9 and being fused T7-12. My wife's health was in jeapordy 2 years ago. I was sinking emotionally. I fell back on an old seafarer's superstition. I have a pig on my left ankle and a rooster on the right. For mariners of old, a shipwreck could be better survived clinging to livestock crate, pigs and chickens usually. Needless to say, as I needed the metaphor as much as I needed external support, this helped me through a rough time. Now, I am working with a friend to plan a couple other larger tattoos. Every bit as meaningful as my simple pig and rooster... I was 52. My wife took them with some difficulty. But understood. She now has 2, paws on her hip for pets not with us. The second was Psalm 23 for walking the valley of Death. Prior to a surgery that literally saved her life. She is also looking towards more. Hell, for the first time ever in my 54 years, in May I asked my daughter in law to bleach my dark brown hair to blonde. My wife is not with or against it. And I love it. I need the roots done again already... I love the reactions from friends I do not see regularly. But I think I look a bit younger...