Yay SunshineCA! I feel the same way!!
I have three tattoos - a forearm, an ankle, and a very large chestpiece! But, like you, all of my tattoos are very special to me - they all serve as visual reminders of times when I had to make a choice, whether the result was good or bad, and the lesson I learned from it.
For the most part, they can be covered by a blouse conservatively buttoned, but I am totally proud to show them off!
I'm the editor-in-chief of my university's newspaper and people treat me like a professional because I behave like one and work hard, even if I do have birds hanging out on my boobs!
So they can take me or leave me...
EDIT: Sorry for the extreme boob close-up, did I do this right? LOL!