Mid-Life Crisis Management

When I turned forty I went through a midlife crisis of sorts. At the time, tattoos on women were not a fashion statement, especially not in the business world. Body art today has undergone a dramatic redefinition and has shifted from a form of deviance to an acceptable form of expression. However, back in the late eighties I felt I wanted to make a statement and a tatt was how I chose to do it.

 

One night with my eldest son in tow I got my tattoo. It is on the outside of my left ankle, a little blue bird carrying a long stem red rose in its beak and a heart in it’s claws. Although it hurt getting it, I was delighted. To me, it reflected just how strong I had become and how much I had grown as a woman. This was to be my celebration, for all the world to see.

 

At the time, I was the Regional Communications Coordinator for an Ontario government Crown Corporation. About a week after I got my tattoo I was at a meeting in our Boardroom on the 11^th Floor at the corner of Bloor and Younge in downtown Toronto. Half way through the meeting, I got up to get some coffee. From the table behind me I heard the Director of Finance say loudly, so that everyone would be sure to hear, “Leslie, I didn’t know you had a tattoo?”

 

Without missing a beat I replied, “Lorne, I didn’t know that you looked at my legs.”….

 

The room remained silent until our Chairman grinned and laughed. Lorne was well known for not being comfortable with women in management positions, but he never tried to embarrass me again …

Reviews

[william keepers]

This is a cute little story Leslie. As far as other words for "tattoo" goes, the only other word(s) I can think of is "body art".

[Gray Witch]

Thanks.... I used that one...lol

[Gray Witch]

Having used the word "tattoo" six times out of 359 words me thinks I need to get out my thesaurus and make a few little changes...

[Robert Lincoln]

I really liked that story - thanks for sharing it with us.

[Gray Witch]

Thanks for reading....

[kimmy]

This was a lovely story, I loved this story..I have 8 tats and love them so much. I don't know why or how I got into them but I couldn't stop after my first one...I loved the board meeting tale :) I would never try to embarrass you again either ;)

[Gray Witch]

LOL...thanks Kimmy!

[Claire Twinn]

An interesting tale of boardroom ethics. I also have an ankle tattoo but have never minded comments about it, but in this situation it was clearly an attempt at a put down, well fielded from a competant female! Well done.

[Ahmad Cox]

This story brought a smile to my face. I can see the whole thing playing out in my head.

[DrD]

Good for you but I still don't like tattoos. But the story is great and it's a statement of individuality and a step out of coformity. Again, good for you and another good for you for bringing us this delightful read.

[CecilA]

This is a great story; so relevant for today's women. I believe having seven sisters has made me sensitive to how women have been treated and still are being treated - like second class citizens. Becoming a husband, a father with a daughter and grandfather with a granddaughter has only heightened my stance on women's rights.

Thank you for sharing this well written story and having the courage to expose a common disregard for women's rights.

I love the way Leslie puts Lorne in his place and how the Chairman had the courage to second her motion: 'I make the motion that I show this #?&@ that I don't have to take his crap.' You didn't know that I was at the meeting too. Not really, but I feel like I was there. I heard the snide remark, felt Leslie's pain, cheered Leslie on, applauded the Chairman, laughed at Lorne and took a sneak peek at the little bluebird - nice tattoo; leg too. Hey, she wanted to make the statement and I have good eyes. She could have put it on her arm. Besides, why go through all that pain for nobody to see it. I'm groveling huh; time to shut up.

It's a pleasure to read you stories and poems. Have you published any of you work?
If not, you should.

Sincerely, Cecil

This would make a great part of a longer story if you choose to expand on the theme someday. Let me know because I'd enjoy reading more.

[Gray Witch]

Thanks Cecil. I was appointed to my position by the Chairman Dr. D. A. Chant FRSC, Prof. Emeritus, Dept. of Zoology, U of Toronto, Chairman and President of the Ontario Waste Management Corporation, ...If he hadn't supported me I would have been very surprised. Lorne on the other hand didn't surprise me in the least ...LOL...I subconsciously chose to locate my tattoo where it would always be seen by my colleagues.

[David Scott]

Ha! Perfect! I have no tattoo's and don't ever plan on it, but I live to see how people express their individuality. Thank God everyone is not like me! Ha
You handled that perfectly btw.