D. Barbara McWhite grew up in York County, S.C., and lives in Orange Park, Fla., with her husband and cat. Her column is published here each Tuesday. Opinions expressed are solely her own.

Word has it that teen star Selena Gomez has tattooed the name of her 17-year-old-heartthrob boyfriend, Justin Bieber, on her wrist. Hollywood watchers are speculating that perhaps the tattoo isn't permanent.

I should hope not! Why would anyone, especially a 19-year-old, get a boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s name tattooed anywhere on their body?

To me, getting a tattoo is kind of like buying a tombstone. You may think you want to live and die with your "true love,” but you don't want to go buying side-by-side cemetery plots.

I remember being in love at age 17 with a young preacher who made my heart sing...for a few months. Our only "dates" were in the living room of my parents’ house. After our first date, I simply knew he was "the one for me.”

It didn't take long, however, before I started to notice the way he slurped his food, and thus began the death of my "undying" love. Before long, I was trying to get away while he was trying to hold on.

He tried to tell me that God had given me to him for his wife. I remember well my wryful reply: "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."

Cruel but effective!

I am happy to report that the preacher has gone on to marry, and I hope happily. So the one that he claimed was meant for him was indeed not the one.

My college suitor was equally ardent. I remember getting a Valentines Day card from him that declared, "Rockin’ by the ocean. Rockin’ by the sea. One day, baby, you'll be rockin’ by me."

Sweet, but so not true.

I have been rockin’ by my husband, Mike, for these last 30 years, and after a heated argument, even we still like to fool ourselves that we might just leave and find somebody new. So even after all these years, I would be afraid to even get my husband’s name tattooed on my body.

Love and relationships are capricious. You never know when the one you love will meet his Liz Taylor or his Angelina Jolie and is swept away in the throes of passion. And if you start tattooing names at 19, before long you will look like Kat Von D or a graffiti wall tagged by some neighborhood gang.

There is a thin line between love and hate, especially in Hollywood, and you don't want to be left holding the love bag with his name etched into your body. Imagine if Liz Taylor has started tattooing with her first love.

Take it from me, Selena; don't start that mess. You and Justin are so young. And if your relationship mirrors so many of the Hollywood love matches, you will likely marry and divorce Brad Pit, get remarried to Will Smith but end up in bed with Mark Anthony as poor Will cries at the door. All the while, Justin will likely have a sex change operation, change his name to Jaz and write a book.

I must admit; I don't care for tattoos. I just can’t imagine why anyone would want to write something permanent on his or her body. But if I ever decide to get a tattoo, it will be something I can always count on. Something that I know will never go away...something like:

-- I have dust-bunnies under my bed.
-- My electric bill is too high.
-- My child is running a little short on cash.
-- It’s time for my pastor’s and church anniversary.
-- I get a toothache on the weekend.
-- I took a flu shot and still got the flu.
-- My husband says I was wrong.
-- I didn't win the lottery.

What about you? What would your tattoo say?

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