Tattoo Granny Revolting Reaction

Last month I blogged about a front page story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about a tattoo covered granny who calls herself Miss Dixie. I did not focus on the Star-Telegram's making this a front page story. My focus was on this granny's bizarre, in my opinion, behavior.

Well. A couple days ago there were a pair of letters to the editor that took issue with the Star-Telegram's bad judgement in putting this story on the front page.

Letter to the Editor #1---------

Furthermore...

I like newspapers. I grew up around newspapers. I’ve written for newspapers. Some of my best friends work for newspapers. But I’ve never seen a more unseemly and unprofessional front page than that on June 21 featuring a large color photo of a woman’s tattooed back and arms. And you wonder why revenues are down?

— Bruce Rider, Grapevine

Letter to the Editor #2---------

Lots of ink

I looked at the front page of the June 21 Star-Telegram and couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a large picture of a woman covered by tattoos over her whole body. The story said that her mother died of cancer when she was 47 and she had a small tattoo put on her in remembrance of her mother. I do not find fault with this, as a small tattoo on someone’s body does not upset me.

However, I can’t stand to see all these ballplayers covered with them — and especially not this woman, Shirley “Miss Dixie” Hammond. She does not have a spot left on her body except for her face, which will probably be next.

Using two types of cancer and family trauma is not an excuse. I suffered from three types of cancer for 10 years and have now been free of it for 10 years. I did not get one tattoo to get me over this cancer and the traumas I have had in my 76 years.

These tattoos kept her out of la-la land and alive and happy? Her psychiatrist said it’s because she is paranoid. Yes, he is right. Her disorder is characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur, often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason.

These tattoos over her body did not keep her out of la-la land but put her in it very deeply. It was a very bad article for our young and upcoming generations.

— Don Vouky, Arlington