yellowwing
12-16-04, 06:06 PM
Associated Press, Wed Dec 15, 4:45 PM ET (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=817&e=10&u=/ap/nonagenarian_tattoo)
DuBOIS, Pa. - Ralph Bonebreak was born to be wild — in 1910. The 94-year-old man recently got his first ink at the Tainted Flesh tattoo parlor in his hometown. Bonebreak emerged from under the needle with a locomotive on his right arm and an eagle on his left.
"Tattooing an older person is a bit more difficult because their skin is different and sometimes it comes away from the muscle a little," said Bob MacCready, a tattoo artist at Tainted Flesh.
Before Saturday, the oldest person MacCready had ever worked on was an 81-year-old patron.
A lot of men who went into the military got tattoos, but Bonebreak's 38-year career with the railroad kept him out of the service, said his friend, Eve Camuso.
"He's always wanted a tattoo, but back then the only place you could get one was at the county fair," Camuso said. "They weren't very clean."
Camuso and Bonebreak asked a doctor about medical complications before contacting MacCready.
Bonebreak selected a train to commemorate his time with the railroad. A belt buckle inspired his eagle design.
Bonebreak might have been nervous, but he didn't show it when he hopped in the chair.
"It's a new experience so I'd say I was a little anxious," Bonebreak said.
DuBOIS, Pa. - Ralph Bonebreak was born to be wild — in 1910. The 94-year-old man recently got his first ink at the Tainted Flesh tattoo parlor in his hometown. Bonebreak emerged from under the needle with a locomotive on his right arm and an eagle on his left.
"Tattooing an older person is a bit more difficult because their skin is different and sometimes it comes away from the muscle a little," said Bob MacCready, a tattoo artist at Tainted Flesh.
Before Saturday, the oldest person MacCready had ever worked on was an 81-year-old patron.
A lot of men who went into the military got tattoos, but Bonebreak's 38-year career with the railroad kept him out of the service, said his friend, Eve Camuso.
"He's always wanted a tattoo, but back then the only place you could get one was at the county fair," Camuso said. "They weren't very clean."
Camuso and Bonebreak asked a doctor about medical complications before contacting MacCready.
Bonebreak selected a train to commemorate his time with the railroad. A belt buckle inspired his eagle design.
Bonebreak might have been nervous, but he didn't show it when he hopped in the chair.
"It's a new experience so I'd say I was a little anxious," Bonebreak said.