I just can't commit

A little sting, a little bling, that’s more my kinda thing

By Natasha Gorbachev on January 10, 2008

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a complete commitment phob and that even applies to my skin.



I have to let you cutting-edge readers down by saying that there’s not one tattoo that graces my entire body.



That’s not because I frown upon tattoos. Oh no, I actually find them to be quite sexy.

Much like men, I just haven’t found the right one that I’d like to be with for the rest of my life, and I’m terrified of making the wrong decision.



I know, I’m a complete wuss.



However, when I was 18, I marched into this joint in Auburn (that no longer exists), that was playing the “Natural Born Killers” soundtrack and I got my nose pierced to L7’s “S*** List.” Nothing could’ve been more perfect.



I had the ideal little silver stud in until I got my first bartending job at a snobby establishment and they made me take it out. Boooooo!



Every time I’ve started a new job, I’ve asked if I could get my nose pierced again because it was such a big part of me, and all of the bosses have said no. Double booooo!



But now I feel like tattoos and piercings are much more socially acceptable, as they always should’ve been.



So I went ahead and did it again at a place I’ve been admiring for years:

Flaming Dragon Tattoo on 38th Street.



I’ve driven past Flaming Dragon a million times (I spend money on and drive through the Lincoln District cuz it’s cool) and I’ve always appreciated the fact that it’s there.



Although there weren’t any female anthems playing, Chris from Flaming Dragon pierced my nose with the cutest piece of bling and such friendliness, ease, cleanliness and professionalism (check out the 12-ring corset on his business card).



He told me to breathe in deeply and then he told me to exhale after he inserted the needle. I let him know that I wouldn’t need any of that because I don’t feel pain like everybody else. Grrrrrrr.



What I didn’t tell him was that the toughest parts of the extremely brief procedure actually felt good and I wanted him to do it again. Hee hee.



Flaming Dragon as a whole is an awesome spot that’s truly a part of Tacoma’s International District. It’s been there for seven years and I’m sure it’ll be there forever more.



I’m not in any way trying to diss other tattoo and piercing parlors in Tacoma, let alone the second house that Flaming Dragon has on Sixth Avenue, but if you know anything about me, you know I stick to and believe in what’s close to home.



If you need to get some work done, Flaming Dragon is indeed the Scene of the Crime. And the second I get over my stupid phobia, Flaming Dragon will be the first place I’ll go to lose my tattoo virginity.



[Flaming Dragon Tattoo, 704 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.474.7738]