Ældresagens blad: NU for April 2009:
Text and photo: Martin Foldgast

Karen
- 103 years and newly tattooed -

In Denmark it is illegal to tattoo people on hands and faces. But when tattoo artist Colin Dale heard that Karen Fredsø Larsen was 102 years old, she could freely decide where she wanted to have her tattoo. Karen lives at the nursing home Sølund in Copenhagen.
Her recipe for a good old age is to keep her curiosity, think positively and not to talk about illness.

In the beginning Karen had some trouble understanding Colin, because he being Canadian, speaks Danish with an accent. But along the way they got on fine, and when it was time to talk about pay, Colin said the tattoo was his birthday gift to her.

At first Karen had imagined a tattoo with the word "PAX" or something else with peace: But she got inspired by the tattoo artist Colin Dale's wife's tattoos with petroglyphs and Nordic mythology. So Karen chose with Colin a design to symbolize natural force and energy.

Colin in the process of tattooing. Karen did not feel much pain. "I have experienced so much in my life, that this is nothing".

Karen looking at the finished result. Due to her poor sight, she can not see her new ring very clearly.

Karen is deeply fascinated when Colin's wife shows her tattoos. Karen would also like to see the tattoos on her buttocks, but there the line was drawn.