What Would Cap Do?
I am a big fan of the Captain America comic book series. I have been since I was a kid. I have a tattoo of the Captain America Shield on my left shoulder.
The reason why I chose to permanently mark my precious, silky white skin with Captain America's Shield, was not as a tribute to Cap. No doubt, this alone might have been a worthy enough reason. It was more than that to me. It was a life long commitment to buying into Cap's philosophy. A philosophy built on a proud nation of heroes, past and present. A constant reminder to fight for what is right. To stick to my principles. To defend my beliefs, protect my family and help others, less fortunate than myself.
If all of this sounds like a crock of shit to you...
You'd be completely right.
Actually, I just think that the Cap shield is completely dope and I thought it would look awesome. Which it does. There is a point to all of this though.
Last weekend, I took my oldest daughter to pick up her new bike. Right across the street from the bicycle shop is the tattoo parlor where I get my ink. I've been wanting to make an appointment for quite some time, so I decided to drop in. I thought it would be cool to take my daughter with me and show her around. She has no problem with my tattoos. I've had ink since before she was born and I've added a bunch along the way. I've even got her name on my arm. I think she looks at me as a cool dad. At least that's what I thought. She sat with me while I discussed my next tattoo with one of the artists. When we left the shop, we had this little exchange...
Out-Numbered - So, what do you think about my idea for the new tattoo?
Six Year Old - It's OK. I guess.
Out-Numbered - What do you mean, you guess?
Six Year Old - It's fine.
Out-Numbered - Dude. I thought you liked my tattoos?
Six Year Old - I do.
Out-Numbered - Then what's the problem? I don't get it.
Six Year Old - Nothing Daddy.
Out-Numbered - Are you sure?
Six Year Old - I don't think you should get anymore tattoos.
Out-Numbered - Why?
Six Year Old - I just think you have enough.
Out-Numbered - Is that all?
Six Year Old - Kind of.
Out-Numbered - Sweet heart. C'mon. Tell me what you're thinking.
Six Year Old - I just don't want people to make fun of me.
Out-Numbered - What? Why would they make fun of you? Because of my tattoos?
Six Year Old - Yes.
Out-Numbered - You know what? I don't think anyone will make fun of you. I'll tell you what though. If they do, then they probably aren't worth paying attention to any way.
Six Year Old - Fine.
Out-Numbered - And I'll kick their butts.
Six Year Old - You're annoying.
Out-Numbered - Got it.
This kind of broke my heart. It's not like I'm Dennis Hopper, in Hoosiers, drunk off my ass, embarrassing the shit out of her in public. Or Harry Dean Stanton, from Pretty in Pink. I'm not the Jewish, Dennis Rodman. I don't have a pair of tits, tattooed on my neck or anything like that. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
But wait...
Fuck that shit!
Maybe that Captain America Shield on my shoulder, does stand for something. Maybe it's not just Fo' Sho'. You don't have to be a Super Hero to teach your kids to think for themselves. You certainly don't have to possess super human strength to set an example and you definitely don't need to ingest Super Soldier Serum to tell some punk ass, first grader, to step off.
I'm keeping that appointment to get my new tattoo. I'm going to show her that her Dad is the shizzle; With or without a tattoo of a metalic blue, BC Rich Bitch guitar, with an evil skull impaled on the neck.
Don't ask.
This Super Hero refuses to feel Out-Numbered...
The reason why I chose to permanently mark my precious, silky white skin with Captain America's Shield, was not as a tribute to Cap. No doubt, this alone might have been a worthy enough reason. It was more than that to me. It was a life long commitment to buying into Cap's philosophy. A philosophy built on a proud nation of heroes, past and present. A constant reminder to fight for what is right. To stick to my principles. To defend my beliefs, protect my family and help others, less fortunate than myself.
If all of this sounds like a crock of shit to you...
You'd be completely right.
Actually, I just think that the Cap shield is completely dope and I thought it would look awesome. Which it does. There is a point to all of this though.
Last weekend, I took my oldest daughter to pick up her new bike. Right across the street from the bicycle shop is the tattoo parlor where I get my ink. I've been wanting to make an appointment for quite some time, so I decided to drop in. I thought it would be cool to take my daughter with me and show her around. She has no problem with my tattoos. I've had ink since before she was born and I've added a bunch along the way. I've even got her name on my arm. I think she looks at me as a cool dad. At least that's what I thought. She sat with me while I discussed my next tattoo with one of the artists. When we left the shop, we had this little exchange...
Out-Numbered - So, what do you think about my idea for the new tattoo?
Six Year Old - It's OK. I guess.
Out-Numbered - What do you mean, you guess?
Six Year Old - It's fine.
Out-Numbered - Dude. I thought you liked my tattoos?
Six Year Old - I do.
Out-Numbered - Then what's the problem? I don't get it.
Six Year Old - Nothing Daddy.
Out-Numbered - Are you sure?
Six Year Old - I don't think you should get anymore tattoos.
Out-Numbered - Why?
Six Year Old - I just think you have enough.
Out-Numbered - Is that all?
Six Year Old - Kind of.
Out-Numbered - Sweet heart. C'mon. Tell me what you're thinking.
Six Year Old - I just don't want people to make fun of me.
Out-Numbered - What? Why would they make fun of you? Because of my tattoos?
Six Year Old - Yes.
Out-Numbered - You know what? I don't think anyone will make fun of you. I'll tell you what though. If they do, then they probably aren't worth paying attention to any way.
Six Year Old - Fine.
Out-Numbered - And I'll kick their butts.
Six Year Old - You're annoying.
Out-Numbered - Got it.
This kind of broke my heart. It's not like I'm Dennis Hopper, in Hoosiers, drunk off my ass, embarrassing the shit out of her in public. Or Harry Dean Stanton, from Pretty in Pink. I'm not the Jewish, Dennis Rodman. I don't have a pair of tits, tattooed on my neck or anything like that. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
But wait...
Fuck that shit!
Maybe that Captain America Shield on my shoulder, does stand for something. Maybe it's not just Fo' Sho'. You don't have to be a Super Hero to teach your kids to think for themselves. You certainly don't have to possess super human strength to set an example and you definitely don't need to ingest Super Soldier Serum to tell some punk ass, first grader, to step off.
I'm keeping that appointment to get my new tattoo. I'm going to show her that her Dad is the shizzle; With or without a tattoo of a metalic blue, BC Rich Bitch guitar, with an evil skull impaled on the neck.
Don't ask.
This Super Hero refuses to feel Out-Numbered...
Alex I have often wondered just why people have themselves tattooed. In wondering I'm not critical. I just wonder ...
ReplyDeleteAt least I know a little of why you have yours ...
And good on you for having a child who will tell you what's on her mind.
She's a cool dude not just for that - but because she has a bicycle. She can join my mythical bicycle fan club. I wonder if she'll still be riding when she's 72 - just like me ... ?
June in Oz
Nice job Steve Rogers.
ReplyDeletedont feel bad Jason, if i wear a shirt with an open back, that shows my tattoo, my kid gets all weirded out too!
ReplyDeleteI get Six Year Old Daughter as that's getting to be a tough age (of course, nothing like preteens!); she loves you and is concerned about you being judged by others. It'll take some time before she realizes that other peeps should be judging at all!
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of tatoos myself but it's your bod.
While I'll never have a tattoo (afraid of needles) I think she'll get over it. Kids make fun of other kids for everything, it'll pass. And as she gets older, the same kids who made fun of her for your tattoos will probably think they're realy cool as they approach the age when they want one themselves.
ReplyDeletethe big one wlll probably get a tat someday and not bother telling us first.
ReplyDeleteas for the little one, when u come home with your new tatoo, she'll probably draw all over herself to be "just like da-dee"
yuv!
DAMNIT! I have been considering getting my FIRST tattoo, with our little ones name emblazoned on it...now? hell I am getting that Looney Tunes Logo that I always wanted...count on it! LOL...As always a great post my friend! Kudos!
ReplyDeletedude you dont get it.....you could be dopest coolest most fo-shizzle dad on the planet but she will still be emabarrassed either way...thats kids man...they want their independance at some point!!!
ReplyDeleteThat being said...i think you should get tattoo sleeves and show all her friends at every given opportunity!! That my friend is our job as fathers
Very cool tat, Jason. Kudos to the little one for telling you what's on her mind, but there is a lesson to be learned, to wit: don't let the irrational self-righteous judgment-spewing douchebags into your head. You might want to change the wording on that, but there it is.
ReplyDeleteJust be prepared for her to show you her foot-long dragon tattoo on her back when she comes home from prom night in about ten years.
Yeah - or you could try and win her over by getting a tattoo of her choice of shizzle.
ReplyDeleteI am sure a Dora, Hannah Montana, or whoever is cool to that age group would be the bomb!
You would wear that with pride would you not?
Hmm?
Cap'n, I had no idea you were so dope. People who make your 6 year old feel bad about your tats are just redonk.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Tat guy. Mostly because I don't have a place on my body that's free of hair so that I could get one.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend that has the entire Scooby Doo clan with ghosts behind them. It's the shit.
I have another friend that has a Tat right by his nethers. He would in effect have to show me his junk in order to see the Tat. Never understood that.
My husband and I both have tats - kanji. I want at least two, three, or more. Our kids (3 &5) think they are cool and LOVE getting fake tattoos all the time. But I do think it's cool she's comfortable enough with you to be honest about her feelings.
ReplyDeleteBesides, you're the dad, it's your body - you do what YOU gotta do!
So you got some Captain America ink, huh? I appreciate your straying from the Supermans and Batmans of the world, delving one tier lower in the superhero hierarchy.
ReplyDeleteNow if you really grew some stones, you'd start thinking about a full-chested Aquaman, complete with sea background and triton.
Thats a tough one. You're already on the road to teaching her that its whats on the inside that counts. -Jason
ReplyDeleteActually, now that I think about it. Captain America is just a bit too safe. A bit too mainstream. You should have gone with the Wonder Twins. Or Plastic Man.
ReplyDeleteTattoo makes me think of one word: OUCH! Actually another word comes to mind: NEEDLES. Oh yuck. As you can tell, I'm not a tattoo kind of girl, but if it's your thing, go for it!
ReplyDeleteKids will get embarrassed of their parents at all ages. It's a given. I'm glad you're stressing thinking for yourself. That's a good lesson to learn at any age.
Cool tattoo by the way.
There's this whole thing about being Jewish and not being able to get a tattoo that stopped me from getting one. But it is also the needles.:) My husband almost got one, but then he decided not to do it. My brother has a tiny one, but aside from their beauty on some people I wonder why people get them.
ReplyDeleteYour discussion with your daughter unfortunately is probably a harbinger of more of these to come. Embarrassing your kid is something that is par for the course for parents. Wait until she's a teenager and doesn't want to be seen with you.:) Enjoy the easy times now and keep the talking going, because the bonding helps when they are no longer teens.:) But you have so much time for that.
Please visit my blog to see my guest author Cynthia Polansky's interview. One of her books is a novel about the Holocaust about a woman who should probably be given her sainthood.:)
http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/
My husband has a tattoo of a partially nude woman - showing one breast - on his arm (he got it in honor of me). Our kids actually think it's cool. I'm the one who's a little creeped out by this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and setting me straight about tattoos and being Jewish!
ReplyDeleteI really like tattoos (I have 4). But unless I go shirtless you can't see them (and I don't go shirtless...often). But I really like tattoos on guys. The shield is cool.
ReplyDeleteI love Cap America. I love the theme song too!
ReplyDeleteIt's true what you say. My son has long hair. No, I mean REALLY long hair. He's almost four and we've never cut it. It's hair so he can decide when he wants to cut it. Where we live now everyone thinks he's a girl (even when he's wearing all NFL gear). Where we used to live in Cali, everyone knew. Go figure. Point is, he likes his hair and he doesn't give a rat's ass what anyone else thinks. That's why I love my kid so much!
Dear Son,
ReplyDeleteI'm truly impressed with how much you know and how worldly you've become.
However, I've noticed, on many occasions, how worldly very young children are, too. Sometimes even more so than adults. In my old age I am still learning a lot from my younger friends(students) and grandchildren.
Mom
Me think it's time to grow up!
ReplyDeleteMy 6 yr old is a prude. if we were to just things based on right now, we would say he will never have a tattoo.
ReplyDeleteWow, Dude, your Mom weighed in. My Mom can barely find my blog.
LOL, I love your posts. You always give me a great laugh. Love the dialogue between you and your daughter. I, myself, have 3 tattoos and I think tattoos are great as long as their tasteful and preferably with some kind of meaning. Wait till your daughter comes home with a ton of tattoos and piercings...you can tell her this story.
ReplyDeleteThe very next day, the Daily News did a whole story on Captain America - very strange.. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2009/06/15/2009-06-15_some_comic_relief_captain_america_is_coming_back_to_life_in_a_new_fivepart_serie.html
ReplyDeleteHere is an excerpt from the article...
It's been 68 years since creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby introduced Rogers - a scrawny kid who is injected with a "Super Soldier" serum to fight the Nazis - to an adoring fan base.
"[Captain America] at heart is a bit of an old-fashioned guy - he looks like Brad Pitt, but smells like your granddad."
--------------------------
My interpretation is that YOU are the scrawny kid injected with a testosterone-fueled viewpoint needed to battle the estrogen-laced environment you live in - to an adoring fan base.
You are definitely old-fashioned, OK looking (nothing like Brad Pitt) and you certainly reek like old people!!!
Thanks Packer. I think.
ReplyDelete