You’re right about Dia de los Muertos, but that’s just one day. A permanent death image, on my body? Um… I don’t think so.

Essentially… I’m with Thumper. It’s not necessarily about looking tough, though that’s obviously a side effect, since images of death can be unnerving to some people. I can’t say for sure I’d never tattoo a skull on my body (if I could ever settle on a design and where to put it), but I also don’t mind keeping a few replica skulls (and real or replica bones) around in general. Part of it is “Memento Mori”, part of it is my savage Celtic tendencies (the Celts having taken heads as trophies). If I ever did get skulls tattooed, I’d probably treat them like markers of achievement, specifically for overcoming some sort of conflict, like conquering a phobia or getting rid of a bad habit.

I’m reminded of the Dia de los Muertos celebrations, and how images of death and making light of it can be a way of coping with the eventuality of it. Ultimately, fearing it is useless, since there’s no way of avoiding it. This also puts me in mind of a quote from one of the Viking sagas: “Fearlessness is better than a faint-heart for any man who puts his nose out of doors. The length of my life and the day of my death were fated long ago.”

I went to Body Worlds 3, and it simultaneously tremendously unnerving and amazingly FASCINATING. Definitely not for everyone, though.

Of course, I’m the wimp who refused to go to the “Body Works” exhibit with the rest of my family because the idea of being close to dead bodies like that creeps me out. Strange point of view for someone who’s been fascinated with Ancient Egypt nearly all her life, hmm?

Since then–while I wouldn’t have a skull on my skin OR my bike–I get it a little more. It means something else to other people, and I think it can only be as toxic as the intent behind it.