My tattoo, right after Saka finished it. Perfection!
This past Friday at Liz's, we had decided to all go get tattoos together ('we' is me, Liz, and Nikki). Unfortunately, Liz wasn't able to come get her tattoo with us, but since the guy at the tattoo shop let us book our appointments over the phone without putting down deposits Nikki and I went ahead and got our tattoos without her, but she was definitely there in spirit! No worries though, they're going to fly down to Florida in January for a visit so we can get another one together like planned.
My tattoo had such a special meaning for me - it's a line from the song "Float On" by Modest Mouse, which was played at Derek's visitation when he passed away. I'd liked the song before this happened because I've been a HUGE Modest Mouse fan for a really long time, but something about it clicked for me at that particular time when I heard it. It made me realize that some really horrible shit is going to happen in life but you pick up, regroup, and move on to better days and circumstances. Derek's death was pretty much the worst thing to happen in my life to date, but I survived it. And not only did I survive it, but I've learned from it and grown since it happened. So now, five years after his death, he's finally memorialized permanently on my body. I get that some people think getting a tattoo to honor someone's memory is dumb, but for me, it was therapeutic. The physical pain of the tattoo will never match the emotional pain of losing Derek, but the point is that tattoos are flesh wounds, and wounds like that heal. In a few weeks, after the skin has scabbed and peeled, my tattoo will have healed completely, but that area on my foot will forever be tainted with scar tissue. Getting this tattoo for Derek has helped my heart heal, but there's going to be scar tissue there forever, and sometimes it's still going to hurt, and that's okay.
About three minutes into getting it done.
Notice my death grip on the chair's arm.
Nikki's tattoo was really special and important to her, too, but that's certainly her story to tell. I will share pictures though, because getting inked with her is part of MY story, ovbiously.
Nikki with Saka, the guy who did my tattoo.
This face is pretty priceless for me. Asian, the guy who did her tat, is amazing by the way.
Nikki's fresh, beautiful ink!
A shot of mine a few hours after it was done - my foot certainly looks a little swollen and there are masking tape marks all over it where he taped saran wrap to it.
