It's Tattoo Time

Now that Summer’s here, you can see them everywhere.

I’m talking about tattoos, and it seems like the Millennials regard a tattoo or two as part of their hip-young-person uniform.

Along with their nose rings and lip rings and — in some cases — nipple rings — a tattoo is almost a required display of how extremely cool you are.

“Yeah, got another tat last night,” said the hipster, hiking up his shirt. “Just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Ain’t it bitchin’?”

And another flaming skull is added to the things I’d rather not see at the lake.

When I was growing up — way back in the late 20th century — tattoos were definitely NOT cool with the kids. In fact, the prevailing opinion of just about everybody was that tattoos were only worn by Navy vets and federal prisoners.

You know: The hairy knuckle, monobrow, Bad Boy types looking for trouble.

But today, it seems just about everyone under 30 — and quite a few over 30 — is sporting a tat for the world to admire.

For some — mostly the Ladies — it’s something fairly small and cute, like a flower or baby unicorn. And then there’s the total tat addicts. — almost always males, thank God — with a kaleidoscope of tattoos on their chests, backs, arms and legs.

Some are low-key about it: Guys wearing sleeveless shirts so you can spot their “I Love Mom” tat on their upper arm. And girls with their tiny tats down around their ankles — but many don’t stop there.

No, some gals get a small tat and think: “Hmmmm…my friends really liked my ankle tattoo. I think I’ll get an awesome snake tattoo that goes all the way up my leg!”

And when you’re young and your skin is resilient and supple, that tat looks soooooo cool!

But most tat lovers don’t really think long-term about their body ink — how it’s going to look when they’re 70 and their skin has definitely gone into sag mode.

All I can say is: Enjoy your flaming skull, but please — please — keep your shirt on, Gramps!

For those who decide the tat they got that drunken Saturday night isn’t something they want to stare at the rest of their lives, tattoo removal is possible.

Lasers can remove tats, but it can take up to 10 visits — spaced about 8 weeks apart for healing — by your local tattooist or tat removal specialist. The cost is not inexpensive and insurance doesn’t cover it.

And it's not a painless procedure.

But hey — it’s your body and you can do what you want with it. And maybe that tat will help you land a great job!

I hear job interviewers just love tattoos.