by David Hill
Editor
When people of a certain age think of someone who has a tattoo, the first thing that often comes to mind is of a biker, a gang member, a prisoner, a sailor or rebellious teen.
But opinions of tattoos – and people with tattoos – is quickly changing. People get tattoos for many different reasons. According to one source, the top two reasons people get tattoos today include indentifying themselves and honoring loved ones.
Six sisters from Thief River Falls recently had matching tattoos placed on their forearms and for many interesting reasons.
There were eight children in the Harold and Betty Swanson family, but a couple of tragedies took the two brothers, Mike and Mark, leaving the six sisters always feeling that loss. Eight years ago they lost their father, and two years later they lost their mom.
The sisters – Susan Buhl, Julie Sullivan, Wendy Goddard, Corlynne Jorde, Jodell Usitalo, and Nancy Thompson – have always been close. Today, even though years and miles separate them, they find a way to get together every year. They also hold frequent reunions. In fact, they recently held a family reunion, which was attended by 55 members of the family.
Susan said Nancy, the youngest, came up with the idea to all get a tattoo.
Susan said their parents probably wouldn’t have said anything. “Our parents always let us be our own person.”
The six sisters, now ranging in age between 50 and 64, met in June in Phoenix, Ariz., for Nancy’s 50th birthday. They found a place that looked very professional – though Susan said there were a lot of people there who had a lot of piercings and tattoos.
They had also decided on a symbol after looking at options on Pinterest and discussing it. They settled on a figure eight that could also be the infinity symbol – eight for the eight kids and an infinity symbol for the infinite love and connection they share. The word “Sisters” is in the middle of the figure eight and lines from the eight and word “Sisters” form two hearts – one at each end of the figure, one for each of their brothers.
Susan said they had decided to have them all done at once so that they would be identical. They also had it done at the same time so that no one could back out at the last moment. Susan said Julie was the most apprehensive so they made her go first. The most difficult decision they had to make regarding the tattoo was where on their bodies they wanted to place it, but they finally settled on their forearms.
They didn’t have any liquid courage before they got the tattoo, but Susan said it did require a pep talk.
Susan said it hurt a little at first, but afterwards she said it didn’t hurt at all.
Because it sits on their forearms it’s not like they can hide it, especially during the summer months.
Susan said they get a lot of comments about the tattoo. She said her friends think it’s pretty cool, especially when they hear the story.
Susan said their kids all thought it was OK, too. She added her daughter now wants to get a tattoo with her, though Susan has no plans for another one. She added that she certainly has no plans for body piercings!
According to Smithsonian.com, humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. These permanent designs – sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, always personal – have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment.
For a long time, the earliest known examples were from the ancient Egyptians. Tattoos were present on several female mummies dated to around 2000 B.C. Around 1991, however, the remains of a man from the area of the Italian-Austrian border was found. Tattoos on his body puts the art of tattooing back to around 5,200 years ago.