Of Piercings and Tattoos ( first posted on thebarefootfoodie.org on 19 Oct 2013 )

Once Is Not Enough

A has developed the knack of seizing opportune moments when I am not too alert, and hold me to ransom. Not so long ago, she asked if she could have her ears pierced AGAIN , and I must have agreed, caught between appearing cool, understanding, and all that; versus the un-fun mummy the spoiler.

True to form, I got a text from her after the deed was done. A took the necessary precautions to make sure I do not and cannot change my mind. I wonder where that came from?

One good, Two better

It does look good, made even better when A does her hair up in a ballerina bun style, just to show off her newly minted ear-lobes. I've always liked her in a bun - it has the classic aura of dignified femininity. So we have here a happy trade-off. I do not look forward to the day when I get tricked into agreeing to something more dramatic.

I have a confession to make, though. Some years ago, I took deliberate steps to permanently etch the hall-mark of anti-establishment to shock G. " Hi...guess what I am doing right now...just getting a tattoo. " G - " Where?" " You'll see later"

The ouch factor

Time changes things. What was deemed taboo earlier is now common-place. Nothing shocks like another new one. Have we become too accommodating, numb, nonchalant, careless or callous? Societal norms are one thing, but when cruelty, racism, misogyny, or bias in some other creative form raises its ugly head and looked on with resignation, disinterest or apathy, it is time to wake up for a reality check.

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