August 17, 2024 TATTOO

My father had a tattoo. He was in the service. I vividly remember seeing it when he rolled his pack of cigarettes--Camels-- in his t-shirt like the greasers did. That's probably the only time I saw a tattoo as a kid. Today--32% of people are INKED and of those-- 22% have more than one tattoo. Small tattoos run between $50-$250 while large tattoos including sleeves can run $650-$8,000. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. I've been talking to people lately with TATTOO REGRET. Some claim they got their tattoos on an impulse, while others thought it was cool or wanted to remember a person or event that they NOW want to let go of. Others cite jobs, taste changes and even starting a family as reasons to rethink their earlier decisions and look into tattoo removal--which is an $800 million dollar industry. Believe it or not--the average cost for  laser INK  removal is $697. Not sure how many sessions are actually needed to get rid of a tattoo--BUT keep in mind that large tattoos-- run at least $4,000. Just some of the facts--think before you INK. Not sure if the main characters in Leaving by Roxana Robinson had tattoos or not-- but they certainly remembered each other even after forty years. As this haunting novel unfolds, Sarah and Warren were college sweethearts with plans to one day marry until things got in the way. One evening forty years later, the two bump into each other at the opera and sparks fly. Sarah lives in NYC and has been divorced for several years. She has two grown children.  Warren is an architect who lives in Boston with his wife. He has an adult daughter who lives nearby. After the two reconnect, they fall in love. Warren wants to leave his marriage and start anew but Sarah has reservations as she went through a devasting divorce. I don't want to say much more about this eye-opening, thoughtful book other than its really about the vows we take,  honor, parenthood, our responsibility to family, friends and our adult children. Find out what happens to Warren, Sarah and their families when you read this unforgettable book of about 350 pages. Would love to know what you think........