GUILTY AS CHARGED.

OK. I admit it! I'm old; crabby; out-of-it and square. I'm sometimes intolerant and unforgiving. I resist change and long for things as they once were.

I don't like the strong popularity of tattoo's. Years ago the only people who got "ink" or "tats" or whatever you want to call tattoos were drunken sailors. Now I see them on so many people that I would never imagine would accept the pain and expense to "decorate" their bodies. I know. I know. It is acceptable today. But.. I still have problems understanding the craze. I also wonder what these people will think in fifty years from now when they have to explain to their grandchildren what the significance of the tats are and why they had them in the first place.

A friend of mine now has a very lucrative business removing unwanted tattoos. It's painful and expensive to remove unwanted "ink." He tells me of his many customers have deep regret over their decision to get a tattoo. Frequently, the pain in endured to remove the name of a previous sweetheart who now is with someone else.

I marvel that the mostworld's most popular and admired soccer star is covered with tattoos. As he piloted the boat with the Olympic torch you could see his handsome face and marvelous physique and then know that he is covered from his neck to his toes with his popular "ink."  America's most gifted NBA basketball player is covered with the tats. (As is many, many of his co-players in professional basketball.) These people along with many music, film, and other celebrates are all strong role models for their fans. Thus, a proliferation of more and more people are decorating their bodies with all kinds of "art." I don't get it.

I marvel that women seem to be getting tattoos more than men. In years past it was a "masculine" thing to do. No more.

Again, I'm out of touch. Forgive me for saying I don't get skin piercing. I surely understand pierced ears and the attractive earrings that are used. What I don't get are pierced tongues. I don't get pierced noses, cheeks, or five holes in each ear. Young people get nipple rings, belly-button rings and other metal decorations pushed through their skin in all kinds of places. Hey, that has to hurt! To me,it is not attractive. But.... again. That's me. I realize I'm old-fashioned and out of touch.

I don't get the "grunge" look. The more holes, tears, rips and frayed edges on a pair of jeans, the more fashionable and popular they are. That's attractive? You pay alot of money to get certain apparel items that have been washed, stained, torn and ripped to look old and tattered. Why?

Young men today are stylish if they have at least a three day growth of beard. It is the attractive, popular thing to do. To me, it's sloven and very unsightly. Special razors are available for these people to shave but still leave a stubble. What's wrong with appearing clean-shaven? When is the last time you saw a popular celebrity sit on the couch next to Leno or Letterman who doesn't appear to need to stand much closer to his razor?  When was the last time you saw a late-night talk show guest have on a coat and tie?

Oh, and speaking of coats and ties - when did they become passe? In the past, when I would attend a symphony or a concert or a play, practically every man would be "dressed up." that's not the case anymore. I will look at the audience and see that I'm the only one with a coat. I see tank-tops, cut-offs, flip-flops, tee-shirts. Anything goes as far as apparel. I really notice it on airplanes. Years ago, air travel was a "dress up" event. Not anymore.

Yes. I realize that time goes on. Fads and fashion are so different now. I like to be up-to-date but really can't. After all, I have already admitted that I am old, and not quickly adaptable to change.