Tattoos and Yoga Tights

Outbound from Seattle to Tokyo, we flew Alaska Air 1076 to San Francisco then Japan Airlines Flight 1 to Tokyo (Haneda).

Our flight from Seattle was 45 minutes late but we had a 2 1/2 hour layover in SFO so, despite the late arrival, we still had time to exit security, catch the Air Train to A Terminal, clear back through security and get to our gate in time.

While waiting for the flights and people watching, I found myself thinking about fads and sheep.

When I was young, tattoos were for sailors, and bikers and other rebels. In the past 20-30 years, it has become a fad to ink up one's body. From hearts and stars, girlfriend's names and other small tats, the fad has progressed(?) to larger tattoos covering whole limbs or even bodies.

I think as the moderating influences of family, community, church and school have declined in our society, what started as a way to show independence or even rebellion, has morphed into a movement of sheep following their bellwether.

I think part of the fad also might be some people's desire to highlight their skin as canvas where the tattoo artist can ply his trade. I'm not sure they will be so proud of that canvas when it stretches or develops wrinkles.

Today I noticed a fair number of shapely (and some not so much) younger women wearing various iterations of T-shirts with black yoga tights. I think they are yoga tights since they stretch skin tight from ankle to upper midriff, showing off Ms. Hardbody, at least the lower two-thirds.

I'm not sure what to think of this. Maybe another way to flaunt old cultural norms? Maybe a way to express equality with those men who travel wearing shorts and tank tops? Maybe a way to transition from almost exposed upper body to almost exposed lower body as a way to attract attention?

Maybe I'm too old to understand. However, it did cross my mind that one day we might see full body tattoos in place of clothing, with a unisex G-string, color coordinated to match the individual's tattoos. To express individuality, of course, never to attract attention or prurient interest.

The eleven hour plus flight to Tokyo soon got my mind off other people's bodies. Even though the JAL 777 had more legroom than normal and we were sitting just behind the partition separating steerage class from business class where we had even more room to move our legs, eleven hours of immobility makes creaky joints cranky.

Departing SFO Saturday around 1600, we arrived in Tokyo Sunday evening about 1930 thanks to the International Date Line, tired but happy to stretch our legs.