This, is my tattoo (not actual size).

I was young(ish). I was cool (fleetingly). I knew that I would always be able to love Love. And yet, the sad truth is, my mother was right. Love should never have seen the end of the tattooist’s pen.

Hidden from the casual viewer (well, not anymore), Love is showing it’s age. As pregnancy stretched me, it stretched my skin and Love was stretched too. I, however, recovered. Time and female biology have not been so kind to Love.

I’ve been waffling over what to do about Love for a long time, but it’s reached a point of crisis where a decision must be made. For this state of affairs, there is no one to blame but Johnny Depp.

Or rather, let’s blame the whole crew of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Once, my 5 year-old’s interest in pirates would have been contained by reading Pippi Longstocking and Treasure Island. We might still have had a pirate-themed birthday party before the interest in pirates was replaced with something new. Now, though, the success of these three films has led to a larger pop-cultural support of his interest. It has also provided him with any number of fake tattoos to choose from. He can, and often does, choose a fresh new tattoo every day.
And, it has inspired this phrase during family swim time:

“Let’s wash your tattoo off. It’s not very nice anymore and you are not a pirate, Mum.”

While I find it easy enough to admit that I am not, have never been and will never be a pirate, I find it harder to deal with the fact that my tattoo doesn’t look nice.

So, it’s time to decide.

Naturally, there is a reason why I’ve decided to reveal my Love now. Not only is it a childbirth and pregnancy recovery issue that affects more women than will admit it (in public), but it’s time for the Project Blog Week 6 Challenge. Allison asked us to draw readers into our stories with pictures…which might have seemed like a better idea BEFORE she saw my tattoo.

Body ink aside, I am still asking for your support and looking for your vote (or all three votes).

I am competing for this grand prize package:

• An autographed picture of Jackie Warner, courtesy of Sky Sport and Spa (Jackie Warner’s gym from Work Out)
• A pair of shoes from the newest line from Jonathan Kayne (one of my favorite Project Runway Alums)
• A Soffe college hoodie, courtesy ofBCS Frenzy
• Gold-plated earrings from Aurora at Between the Sheets
• A pet portrait, courtesy of Intricate Art
• A set of bud vases from Top Design’s Jonathan Adler

This is the competition:

1. Winnie, Watching the View: “Things we probably won’t see on The View this year”
2. Kate, Babylune: “Now We Agree My Mother Was Right”
3. Sally, Style Fix: “Bai Ling: Not a Fashion Worst”
4. Jodie, Gossip on Sports: “Fun with Photo Captions”
5. Mark, Get Incensed: “Star Power”

Post from: Babylune