Shop humor

I haven't tattooed in about a week. I'm itching. But what has stood out to me lately is how much fun working at a shop can be.

I noticed it as soon as I walked in the back door months ago. There is a quick and biting wit that can pounce on anybody in the blink of an eye. Some days I laugh more than I don't. When I'm not the butt of a joke, I'm right in the middle of it grinning from ear to ear.

One guy can make up a story about you on the spot. And as he keeps adding random information - which, with other people, usually results in an uncomfortable pause - his story just keeps getting better. The other day I was told about a lesbian couple that likes to go ballooning in Wyoming. I wish you could have heard it.

I could be wrong, but I think this extends into most shops. When I think about it, some of the funniest people I've met have been tattoo artists.

Hopefully this results in most of us watching Letterman instead of Leno.