When and why did tattoos become so popular? I remember when just sailors got them, had MOM or some old girlfriends name on his arm, and hung out in pool halls and bowling alleys. We had an old family friend who had a tattoo on his arm, Nils Olson, and I always looked at him in awe.
Nils was from Chicago, born in Sweden, and was a master carpenter for the Baldwin Piano Company. Nils was a friend of my Aunt Eva's, who lived in Marion, Indiana. They went together for many years. He was as nice as they come.
We moved in to a new house which had a pool table in the basement, I spent a lot of time practicing, thought I was pretty good. Nils came over for a visit, accepted my challenge. He had spent his off hours in pool halls for many years. He was gracious about it, but, well, he cleaned me. He and his tattoo.
Saw one guy today, arms and legs covered with tats, nickle sized rings in his ear lobes, tats on the back of his neck. I guess. I guess one of the reasons athletes get payed so much money is so they can pay for all those tats. Just wonder when that mindset came in that you needed ink all over your body. In years to come I can hear little children saying, "Show me your tats, grandma."
