Random Encounters

Me: Excuse me; is that a tattoo of a dinosaur?

Girl in bar: [lifts her sleeve] Yeah.

Me [rolling up my sleeve]: That’s really great; I just got a triceratops tattoo.

Girl: That’s cool; where did you get yours done?

Me: Red Rocket Tattoo, on 36th street in Midtown.

Girl: 36th street!?! [gives me a disapproving look, as if to say, “Silly rabbit, you don’t get tattooed in Midtown!”]

Me: [hemming and hawing somewhat]: Well, it’s close to my work…

Girl’s friend: I’ve heard of that place; it’s supposed to be pretty good.

Me [shooting the guy a “Thank you” glance and changing the subject]: So where did you get yours done?

Girl: Oh, Shotsie did it.

Me [blank look]: Oh?

Girl: He’s really famous; he pretty much put tattooing back on the map.

Me. Oh…

Girl: He’s doing this other one, too; can you tell what it is?

Me: The Bridge?

Girl: Yeah, the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s not finished, but it’s gonna be awesome.

Me: Cool. can I take a picture of your dinosaur tattoo?

Girl: Yeah, do you want me to shine it up for you? [licks her hand, then starts to rub her tattoo]

Me: I guess…

Girl: [rub, rub]

Camera phone: [click]

Me: Thanks! What’s your name?

Girl: Liz.

Me: Hi, I’m Josh. Cool, well, thanks. See ya later.

Girl: Bye.

…or something like that. While I didn’t know what to think of Liz’s attitude about location of tattoo shops (maybe I misunderstood? at least one of us had been drinking…), I’m grateful that she turned me on to Shotsie Gorman’s work; it is truly excellent. Photo taken with my crappy camera phone.