I am about to celebrate a significant birthday. While I am none to happy about the prospects of having been on this earth for sixty years, I recognize that having survived this long, despite not having always lived terribly prudently, is definitely cause for celebration.

So, how does one celebrate one’s official entry into the ranks of senior citizenship? I could go out and get drunk, but I’ve been there and done that, and the idea no longer appeals to me. I have all the piercings that I’m comfortable with and getting a haircut (even though I’ll be able to get a senior discount at SuperCuts) is ho hum.

For at least ten years, I’ve been obsessing about getting a tattoo. I was going to do this when I turned fifty, but ten years passed and for whatever reason, I kept putting it off. I had every excuse in the book – I was scared, I didn’t have the money, I couldn’t get a tattoo because I had water aerobics – you name it, I used it.

This year I’m more determined than ever to do it. I already have a little fish tattoo picked out and want to have this done on my ankle. My water aerobics class ends the first week in June and I can wear Capris and skirts to work so that there will be no fabric rub on my healing tat.

I still have my doubts, however. I know my getting a tattoo will be an issue for my 85-year-old mother who still hasn’t recovered from my upper ear piercing! I’m afraid it will hurt as well. I have a very low threshold for pain.

I’m also tempted to get one of the new white tattoos, which look really cool, but are a bit less obtrusive. Then there’s the tattoo itself. Is a fish really what I want, or would some kind of astrological sign be more interesting?

I guess I’ll figure it out in time. I have three weeks before I can do this, and I’m sure I’ll change my mind another ten times. What I need to do is make an appointment, and as the old NIKE saying goes, Just Do It! And you never know, I might even be entitled to a senior citizen discount!