So, this past weekend I finally did something I never thought I would actually follow through on - I got a tattoo!!!! For those of you who don't know, I have a damn near paralyzing fear of needles. In fact, I went with Jenn on Friday to the tattoo parlor to scope it out and like the good pal I am, encouraged her to go through and get the nose piercing she's been wanting for a year! I couldn't help myself, I watched the process, and promptly passed out after. It was a delight.
So...I was squeamish about the whole tattoo thing even more, but this was such a special experience...and nothing in the world was worth having permanently impressed upon my body like this tattoo. If you haven't heard, my Mom has had cancer for almost seven years and it has recently become terminal. She knew that I was going to be getting a tattoo soon, so she told me she wanted to go with me when I did (the design I made was in honor of her). I thought she wanted to watch, but no! My Mom WANTED a tattoo all her own!
She picked out a butterfly, which wasn't my first inclination, but I wanted to share the same design with her. All of the reasons anyone would pick a butterfly...the metamorphasis, the etherial sense, the beauty but simplicity...they all appealed to her. So we showed up and got started!
my bare untatood leg!
Due to the passing out the day before...I decided to go first. I figured if I would've watched first I would have freaked out.
The moment the needle first touched skin! And you know what?? Not so bad! Not my favorite sensation but definately tolerable. I might even be one of those wierdos that actually enjoyed it...
Ok so it hurt. You can't see how hard I am gripping the chair, but you CAN see the veins popping out in my forehead. I think it must have been reaaaaly close to my ankle bone at this point.
Jenn showed up!!! Checkin' out the work! I was so excited I could watch needles and not get nervous!
BEHOLD!!! My tattoo!!
YAY!!!! I did it! I was so flippin' excited. Then it was Mom's turn!!!
Hahaha I LOVE it. And this is the only picture she emailed me because she found out I posting them and I guess she thought she didn't look good in them. Lies. Lol.
Oddly enough, when the tattoo artist (Andy, who was incredible...Platinum Tattoos on 410 and Evers) began working on my Mom's tattoo, I burst into silent tears and I couldn't stop. Thankfully she was fascinated with watching that tattoo process so she didn't see me...it was such an odd emotion to be flooded with. I guess I felt a great sense of loss already...that we were having this amazing, thrilling, somewhat amusing and slightly rebellious experience together, but I couldn't help but wonder how many things we are going to get to do together, or why it took so long for us to take risks like this together...I don't know. I can put my finger on that but can't tag the rest of it. I'm glad Jenn was there because she just held my hand.
And then we started having fun again.
This is Andy. Like I said, an amazing talent.
My Mom's tattoo!!! AAAHHHH!!!!
And here we are with our kickass tattoos!!!
This is a memory that will be permanently marked on both my mind and my body. It's something I will never regret and an experience I will always cherish. I love my Mom, and I love that she has decided to go all out with the days she has left. I'm taking it as a lesson to start doing that now...because I don't know how many days I have left, either.
She's incredible. And I love her.