the Eagle Tattoo

I come from a predominantly Merchant Marine family. On both sides of the family tree, generations of sailors precede me—seamen, marine engineers, fishermen, and more. My Uncle and I diverged a bit and went to sea as members of the Navy. But plus, thirty years as a maritime carver creating transom banners, quarter boards, eagles, and billet heads puts me back in the marine track of my ancestors. I have lots to remind me of the sea.
But no tattoo.
Early on, my father advised me not to decorate my body with piercings or tattoos. Why? Because even innocent sailors have run afoul of the police on liberty and leave. Many of the popular tattoos adorn the arms of thousands of sailors. Police, more interested in collaring a suspect than getting the right individual, have been known to inspect tattoos. The thief had a mermaid on his left arm, and so did you. You get arrested, thrown in jail, miss the ship’s movement, and are in a world of trouble despite being innocent.
How did my father know? Right on the left arm was an impressive tattoo of an eagle with fouled anchors.
If Dad’s advice was insufficient, I soon learned that the Navy also frowned on tattoos. Show up in sick bay after shore leave, present the Corpsman with an infected newly inked tattoo, and watch the trouble start. You might get an anodyne for the physical pain but not for the chewing out at the Captain’s Mast later. You’ll find yourself working on the refrigerators on the mess decks and not being a Quartermaster on the bridge.

So, no tattoo’s

Daily writing prompt

What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

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