Tis' the End

I find it crazy that this will be my last blog post for the eight weeks. And to think that at the beginning of all of this I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough to write about. These eight weeks gave me the opportunity to explore the world of tattoos, something I wouldn’t necessarily do on my own.

I’ve always found tattoos interesting but just recently did I begin to make the connection of tattoos and art. Each week I wrote about new trends in the industry and what clients should consider before getting a tattoo. This new way of writing was refreshing, allowing me to add the appropriate amount of facts and opinion.

I’m glad to announce I still only have one tattoo, but I’m starting realize why people say you can’t really stop at one tattoo. Every time I see a picture I like or when I hear a quote or song lyric, I think about how that could be incorporated into a tattoo.

Recently I’ve been really interested in the Serenity Prayer. I love the meaning of it and think that if I could learn to live by the words of it then I’d be less stressed and I could accept things more easily. I was flipping through a catalog of one of my favorite jewelry stores when I saw a pendent that had the three main words of the Serenity Prayer, serenity, courage and wisdom. I looked at it for awhile and thought, if I get another tattoo, this is what I want. I turned the book around to show my mom and told her that’s what I wanted.

She looked at me and said “You’ve got your one tattoo already.”

I think it takes certain people to wear a lot of tattoos well; I’m not one of them. I rather my tattoos be easily hid and I figure if I get all these tattoos while I’m young then in the future, when I find one I really want then I won’t have a good area for it. Talking about the importance of tattoos has insured me to think before I act.

Blogging on this topic provided me with new information on tattooing as well as enlightenment. I view tattoos with even more appreciation than before.

Put it on a T-shirt: Part 2

I can’t even pretend to understand the reasons why people do it. I fail to see why someone would want to have a picture of Mario etched into their neck. I wouldn’t even hang a Nintendo poster in my house, at most maybe a mouse pad, or some other appropriate venue for silliness. “The tattoos strike me as a geek’s way of always being able to remember the times they’ve spent in their parent’s basement, jobless, and friendless,” stated a friend of mine as we discussed the topic. I understand that all of us have our hobbies, but I’m not a fan of the “Gamer” tattoos.

Maybe it’s because I was never that into video games growing up. I remember playing Sonic with my brother on our Sega and aiming the little gun at the Nintendo set to shoot the birds, but no way would I ever consider getting a tattoo that represents either of the two.

I wanted to look into gamer tattoos so I searched online and the first few sites were not what I wanted at all. They were basically sites for gamers to encourage each other to get what I see as nerdy, pointless tattoos.

“I'm 18 years old and I have an appointment to get a video game related tattoo next week. I'd like to know how on earth this automatically makes me ‘45 and living with my mother’. Tattoos are about having a piece of art on your body, something you plan to carry with you for the rest of your life. Some of us just happen to prefer more original designs than the repeats you see over and over,” explained an anonymous comment left on a blog (ILuvNUFC, 2007).

I’m all for tattoos and the fact that they are truly art but I want to hear this guys reasoning for the tattoo. Original? Sure, but most tattoos are, none is completely identical to another.
Getting a tattoo should be about getting something not just because you like it. If I did that I’d have a spur on my shoulder blade, a white tiger on my forearm, and a portrait of Joe Jonas on my back. I would be foolish aside from looking ridiculous. Truth is, those things will mean next to nothing to me in the future.

I finally came across a site that shared my opinion of these senseless tattoos. I wish I could share all their witty comments but here are a few:

"Ok, as with a few other tattoos on this list, how the hellis getting a tattoo of an effing piece of video game hardware representative of how muchyou like video games? Hey, I really like typing and playing PC games, maybe I'll get agoddamn keyboard tattooed on my forehead. Idiot," (Burt, 2007).

"Hey buddy, remember how much you regretted getting that Atari Jaguar tattoo on yourright arm? Yes, that's because systems go away and usually we don't care when they do.Game Boy is gone and done with, no one cares about your new tattoo, and if you aren'tmentally handicapped you will crap yourself when you come to this realization," (Burt, 2007) .

At first I thought, “Maybe I’m just not getting it,” but this guy obviously shares my views. If a tattoo really has meaning then go ahead and get it, even if there’s no significance, who am I to stop you? I just think that there are some things that are better left on a t-shirt. Tattoos aren’t a game; in reality we don’t get second lives like in Actraiser. If they’re not thought about then instead of light sabers you’ll be seeking tattoo removal by real lasers.

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Burt, A (2007, October 15). The 30 Most Hideous Gamer Tattoos. Gamerhelp, Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://www.gamerhelp.com/article_viewer.cfm?article_id=129780



ILuvNUFC, (2006, December 1). Video Game Tattoos. Look At This, Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://seehere.blogspot.com/2006/12/video-game-tattoos.html

Put it on a T-shirt: Part 1

We’ve all seen tattoo’s that have made us wonder “What were they thinking?!” I know I have. Now that I’ve been exploring the tattooed community which is rapidly growing, I have seen more unbelievable tattoos than ever. From Mario Brothers to Mickey Mouse, nothing is unheard of.

I was watching Miami Ink one night and the show has its amount of interesting stories, but this one sticks out because it was just odd. A woman went in with a case. Inside was a grilled cheese, not just any though, a famous grilled cheese. “Diana Duyser of Ft. Lauderdale made a grilled cheese sandwich and, upon taking her first bite, noticed what she said was a likeness of the Virgin Mary burned into the bread,” (Vagnoni, 2006).

This occurred back in autumn of 1994. But the sandwich continues to live on.

The owner of this sandwich decided to finally sell it on e-Bay, years later. It was sold for a whopping $28,000 to an internet casino. “Goldenpalace.com says it will take the sandwich on world tour before selling it and donating the money to charity,” (Vagnoni, 2006).

“The most expensive piece of bread in the world was on display in front of Miami Ink Tattoo Studio on Friday while the woman who sold it for a whopping $28,000 prepared to have its controversial image permanently placed on her body,” read a Miami newspaper (Local 10, 2006).

The casino paid for Diana’s tattoo, which was done by Kat and cost an estimated $1,000.

"We all believe in certain things, OK, and this is what I believe in, and this is what I want near and close to my heart," Duyser said. "She'll be there forever," (Local 10, 2006).
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Vagnoni, N (2006, June, 6). Woman gets Virgin Mary grilled cheese tattoo. Slashfood, Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://www.slashfood.com/2006/06/06/woman-gets-virgin-mary-grilled-cheese-tattoo/


Local 10, (2006, June 2). Woman Gets 'Virgin Mary' Sandwich Image Tattooed On Chest. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from Miami News Web site: http://www.local10.com/news/9312515/detail.html

Tattoos: A Style Essential

Thanksgiving break left me little time to sit back and relax. I’m glad to say that the wedding went smoothly and was a ton of fun. Coming back to Virginia was hard to do, from leaving my lovely niece and brother, to all the fabulous Mexican food. But I’m relieved to finally have working internet, unlike in that stuffy hotel room.

One of the few times I watched TV while in San Antonio, I found myself watching Style network. The show on was titled “25 Most Stylish: Essentials.” The show ranked the top 25 fashion trends of the time with celebrity examples. Among the list were miniskirts, pearls, and tattoos. Tattoos ranked in the top 10. Several celebrity examples were given, the best being Angelina Jolie and David Beckham.

Angelina Jolie has that type of mysterious and dangerous persona. She has over a dozen tattoos. One of her most interesting is the coordinates of where she adopted her son, Maddox, “(N11° 33' 00" E104° 51' 00"), Zahara (N09° 02' 00" E038° 45' 00"), Pax (N10° 46' 00" E106° 41' 40") and where her and Brad Pitt's child Shilo was born at (S22° 40' 26" E014° 31' 40") on her left arm which cover up her ‘Billy Bob’ tattoo.”

David Beckham said in his autobiography “I’d finally realized what I wanted a tattoo to represent. Mine are all about the people in my life, my wife and sons, who I want with me always. When you see me, you see the tattoos. You see an expression of how I feel about Victoria and the boys. They're part of me."

"I like the feeling that those two boys [Brooklyn and Romeo] are with me even when I'm away from home. And not just in my heart. I had their names tattooed on my back after each one was born. There's a guardian angel there, too, looking after them both. My dad had three tattoos of his own and so the idea has been with me since I was a kid ....”

His wife, Victoria, my favorite Spice Girl growing up, said that David is leaving his left arm open for their future children. Most of David’s tattoos were done by “Louis Molloy at his Middleton Tattoo Studio one of the most highly regarded and successful Tattoo Studios in the U.K”

“The Middleton Tattoo studio was opened in August 1981 by Louis Molloy who was just 18 years old at the time. The studio has gone from strength to strength and underwent its current incarnation in 2001 making it one of the most modern studios in the UK.”

I’ve been seeing many commercials for the newest tattoo show, London Ink, TLC’s international take on tattoos. I finally looked into it and it is in fact about Louis Molloy, Beckham’s main tattoo artist. “Louis Molloy has won many awards down the years but feels the only ones truly worth mentioning are the two awards for outstanding artist of the year UK in 1986 and 1993.” The waiting list for a tattoo done at his studio can be up to 8 months long!

Something Old, Something New

This week I find myself writing from a hotel room in San Antonio. Between the stresses of last minute bridesmaid preparation for my brother’s wedding, and attempting to see old friends from when I lived here four or so years ago, I’ve been trying to figure out what to write about. I realized since the wireless connection in our hotel room isn’t working that I wasn’t going to be able to cite any online sources and my best bet would be to write about something I know well.

Sometimes it’s hard to me to see my brother as an adult, with a daughter and fiancé. We’ve always been close and I still see him as a goofy as ever. I was most anxious for our trip to see my brother, Aaron, and niece, Marley, who I haven’t seen since my graduation this summer. Last time I saw my brother he had one tattoo, now, he has two. The other night while we were visiting him and his family at their apartment, he surprised us by showing us his newest piece of body art. He got the name “Laura” tattooed on his chest. Laura, is my soon to be sister-in-law. Aaron stole this idea from my dad who has my mom’s name tattooed on his “heart.” Usually I wouldn’t advise getting a name tattoo because in today’s society it is hard to determine what will last. Personally, I don’t think we’ll have a problem with these two. My brother’s first tattoo was a firebird, which can be seen in one of my previous blogs. I was joking with my younger sister and told her she needed to get a flamingo tattoo, to keep the family tradition going.

Today, I was greeted at my brother’s apartment by not only him but a few of his friends. His friends are also like siblings to me, so it was nice to see them. One of them, Josh, was there to rehearse a Bob Dylan song he’s singing at the wedding. While he playing his guitar I noticed he has several interesting tattoos that I found worth writing about. He has a Star of David on his right arm and a “Coexist” tattoo on his left forearm. The C of the tattoo was made from a Muslim crescent, the X was made of a Star of David, and the T was a cross. He explained that it represents the three different religions that “coexist” in our world. He also shared with me another idea he has for a tattoo, a flamingo holding a rose. It sounds random but there's actually meaning to it. His last name is "Garza," which he said stands for a flamingo, at least on the mexican bingo cards. His mother's maiden name is "Flores," spanish for flower.

Lately with everything that’s been going on, I haven’t had much time to spend with my brother. My mom suggested that perhaps this weekend I could go with him to get my tattoo shaded, since he seems to know of a few places. I’m still not sure if I’m up to the idea but it’s something in the back of my mind.

Battle of The Sexes: Part 2

LA Ink is based on the tattoo artist Kat Von D. She was on Miami Ink for two seasons but she returned home to LA and bought her own shop, High Voltage Tattoo. Kat is a talented artist and specializes in portraits but she clashed with Ami James and never felt at home in Miami. Kat is only 25 and has already made a name for herself in the industry. “My parents are from Argentina. They were both missionaries for the church, bringing them to Monterey, Mexico, where I was born," said Kat, "My sister and brother were born there too. In 1986, when I was four, we moved to Southern California where I was raised. I consider LA my home.”

The story of how she got into tattoos is as interesting as she is. “Once I was 12, I started hanging with the "wrong" crowd. Many of these punk rock kids had tattoos and that always interested me. I did my first tattoo at the age of 14 and once I turned 16, got hired at a professional tattoo shop. There I had to unlearn a lot of things I would have known had I had a traditional apprenticeship.”

I envy her and how great she makes all her tattoos look, I don’t know a woman that can have all those tattoos and still look great. When she’s 60, it’s going to be different though. She has said “My fave tattoo that I have are the stars on my left temple (that includes the stars on my left eye lid). “ The stars represent the Motley Crue song “Starry Eyes.”

The show made its premiere this year but has already tattooed a large list of celebrities including Steve-O from Jackass, Sebastian Bach, Eve, Jenna Jameson, and one of my favorite actors, Jesse Metcalfe, from John Tucker Must Die, and the famous gardener from Desperate Housewives.

"Playing by her own rules, Kat lives a fast-paced, rebel lifestyle. Hers is a life of freedom: she sets her own schedule, picks her clients, sleeps late,and parties all night," says TLC.

"Believe the hype- What you see is who she is- Kat Von D is a true one of a kind, bad to the bone, sexy tattooed bombshell- with a captivating personality and an 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. I wish more people in this world embraced who they really are and cared enough about sincerity and integrity like Kat does... It also doesn't hurt that she can draw better than most, is interested in progressing as an artist and is actually trying to show the world that tattooing IS an art form. Her art has a timeless quality to it, with a strong sense of contrast, detail and precision- Kat's own personal aesthetic walks among the few that are fortunately adorned by her touch. Generosity abound, Kat is simply, a great person," Steven Barber said of Kat.

Kat seems like a fun person and she really knows who she is, a great accomplishment for someone of her age. She has her own show and a job that she loves. “My biggest inspiration comes from love. It's the biggest inspiration on the planet for me. It's my higher power. Other places I get inspiration are my family, my heritage, my music, and everything else including my city (Los Angeles). These are my biggest influences in all aspects of life including the way I dress, paint, draw, tattoo, talk, style my cars and the music I listen to.”

The studio's other employees are artists Corey Miller, Hannah Aitchison, Kim Saigh and the shop manager, Amber "Pixie" Acia, Kat's best friend.

I don't like this show nearly as much as Miami Ink. To me the artist aren't nearly as talented or interesting, with the exception of Kat and the clients stories don't seem nearly as touching.

Battle of The Sexes: Part 1

Miami Ink is TLC’s inside look into the world of tattooing. It follows the lives of five tattoo artists, owner Ami James, Chris Nunez, Chris Garver, Darren Bass and their apprentice, Yojiro Harada. “Miami Ink is a rare show that challenges cultural stereotypes of tattoos and shows how talented the tattoo artists really are. Shot in a documentary/'reality' fashion with shop owner Ami James' narration, the show follows both patrons (who explain the deeper meaning behind their requested tattoo)and the artists who apply their exceptional talent on the skin of their clients.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472014/ )

History
James, Garver, Nunez and Bass “studied in Miami under the world famous tattoo artist, the late Lou Sciberras. During their apprenticeship they all lived and worked together becoming the best of friends. Eventually they went their separate ways and opened up their own tattoo parlors in Los Angeles, New York, Connecticut, and South Beach. Their dream was to one day reunite and open their own tattoo parlor together as partners,” explained Tv.com. The show premiered in 2005, and takes place at their tattoo shop, 305 Ink (Miami Ink), on Miami Beach.

The Artists
When watching the show it’s hard to not pick a favorite artist or not be touched by some of the stories that are on there. My favorite artist is Chris Garver, while Ami James and Chris Nunez take the gold eye candy wise. The artists “all with world-class talent and dynamic personalities - live and work together to promote the art of tattoo while running a new business. Miami Ink shows them in and out of their workspace from noon 'til night - and follows their late-night shenanigans, brotherly hazing and camaraderie,” says TattooFinder.

Ami James is the co-owner of the shop and the main focus. He narrates throughout the episodes and is seen as the “tough guy” of the group. His passion for tattooing is apparent while you watch. He was born in Israel and is Jewish. His first tattoo was that of a dragon when he was only 15. He started tattooing when he was 20. He has a hot temper and isn’t shy to let people know he’s in charge.

Chris Garver is the oldest of the five. He seems to be the most laid back of them all. He grew up in Pittsburgh and received his first tattoo at age 15. He sold his bass guitar when he was 17, so he could buy his own tattooing equipment. His favorite tattoo was “from a monk when he was in Thailand - a Buddhist passage that can only be read by monks. Its meaning is "to protect."

Chris Nunez is of French and Cuban decent and was raised in Miami. He travels a lot and spends most of his time partying. His first tattoos were of his parents names when he was 16.

Darren Bass isn’t featured as much as the others but is still quite talented. He is the quietest and nicest of them all. He’s often joked on because he’s so mellow and because he’s only 5’4. Last season he went through a touch divorce and find comfort from the guys at the shop. He is half Polish and Irish and got his first tattoo on his 18th birthday.

Last, but certainly not least is Yoji, the trusted apprentice. He gets the most crap from the guys because of his low rank. He is from Tokyo and a lead singer of a punk rock band. He gave himself his first tattoo.

“Each episode features a number of customers along with their back stories and motivations for choosing their tattoos. There is also some focus on the personal lives of the artists.”

I love this show, especially with the narration the artists give. This season the guys are continuing their search for another artist while dealing with drama and clients. “Bottom line, even if you don't have tattoos, you'll enjoy the show because of the clients' thoughtful stories and the interesting dynamic of the four artists and their apprentice”

Head of the Rest

I came across a great blog when researching other bloggers on tattooing. Tattoo Blog reminded me a lot of my own blog. It discusses recent trends and information about tattoos. It's a little plain which was different from the other tattoo blogs I came across, that mainly contain too many pictures and no information. This site contains great information and many on topics I think I might cover in the future. Numerous resources are listed and the margin is full of other sites relating to our topic that may end up being helpful.


One of my favorite blogs written was titled "Pros and Cons of Tattoos." The author described my feelings in their words. "Tattoos are great for show, although the design itself should hold some meaning." Many of the information on the site verifies my research and my personal feelings on the art.

Ink- the new black?

The art of tattooing is a growing trend for all ages and people these days. Tattoos are no longer just for the rock stars or bikers, they have become mainstream and you might be surprised by some of the people getting them. "20-million Americans have tattoos and the popularity just keeps growing," that's sixteen percent of America! "Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey" conducted by the Pew Research Center. People have began to see their bodies as canvas'. From celebrities to housewives, tattoos really are the new black.

With this new popularity comes new breakthroughs in body art. Tracy Staedter of Discovery News writes, "Tattoos are painful to receive and remove and, barring the later, last a lifetime. But a new technique makes skin art durable and easily removable. "

No Regrets
This new technique is called Freedom-2 Tattoos. The inventors of Freedom-2 ink wanted to combined "high quality art and effective, less painful, lower cost removability." At Freedom-2 they claim to "recognize that life circumstances change and your desire for new body art may cause you to want to remove all or a part of an existing tattoo. Freedom-2 inks are engineered, independent of color, for efficient and effective laser therapy removal leaving your skin clear and ready for new body." Their motto is "Freedom-2 inks will provide you with 100% freedom and zero regret."

Many people who get tattoos find themselves later in life regretting their decision and so seek getting them removed. There are several options of tattoo removal including dermabrasion, surgical exrision, and laser. The removal of a tattoo by laser is the most used. It is painful and expensive. To remove a tattoo it takes several sessions, some taking up to 20 and can cost anywhere between $200-500 per session.

Part of the appeal of tattoos is the fact that they are so risky and they are permanent. Although I think the concept of Freedom-2 ink is great, it somewhat makes the process of getting a tattoo less "hardcore," no longer a decision of a lifetime. It can almost be compared to wearing a piece of jewelry; being able to take it on and off depending on your outfit of the day, except it's changing your body art according to the stage of your life you are in. This can also be a positive aspect. People no longer will have to pay hundreds for tattoo removal, making it more available for all people.

Cross your Heart, Hope to Die, Stick a Needle in your Eye
Literally. I'm still trying to understand this one, but yes, eyeball tattooing. "People really are getting their peepers tattooed in more or less the same way that you would get any other part of your body inked," explains James Doorne. The pigment used is the same kind used for any other tattoo and is injected using a syringe under the top layer of the eye.

Shannon Larratt was one of the first to have this procedure done. He is co-founder and owner of body-modification website Bmezine.com. "The eye is very resilient; you can put almost anything in it. Your eye actually is designed to be able to handle contaminants being there,” he said. “It’s one of the oldest forms of tattooing,” says Shannon. “They basically say it’s safer than regular tattooing. That’s one reason we felt fairly secure moving forward with this – we felt that if they could do it in 1900 and not have any problems then we should be able to do it now.” On their website Shannon wrote in his blog, "The procedures themselves were effectively painless because there aren’t nerve endings in the surface of the eye, and we did additional control with lidocaine drops which numbed the lids. After pain is fairly minor, although we all have bruising and some discomfort."


I have trouble keeping my eyes open when a little water enters or an eyelash, forget a needle.

Are You Afraid of the Dark?
With these new tattoos you don't need to be. This new technique uses blacklight reactive ink. The ink was FDA approved and only visible under a blacklight. This is a great way to get the tattoo you've always wanted without it being visible 24/7. They are mostly invisible in normal light unless a little scarring from the process remains. The UV ink is also available in several colors but those are more visible in light.

Tattoo To Do's

Before traveling down "Tattoo Blvd." there are several things everyone should do, because when it comes to something permanent, you can never be too prepared.

Think Before You Ink
People considering tattoos should be positive of what design they want and ask themselves a few questions. Will this image be as important in the future as it is now? Will this effect my career? What messages is this saying about me? Am willing to take the chance of infection or risks? And why do I want this tattoo? Like I mentioned before, people get tattoos for all different reason, just be willing to live with the consequences. Make sure the choice of design is personal, not something that will later be regretted. I’ve heard it is best to wait a few months after deciding what you want to insure that it is something you love. Getting a name of a love interest isn’t recommended, relationships are tricky and you must think about whether or not you will be with the person years down the road.

Finding the Perfect Shop and Artist for You
When buying something such as a car, we tend to shop around, tattoos are no different. One should make sure that they find a place that is clean and experienced. Along with finding a place comes finding an artist. According to Tattoo Johnny there are three things to look for in an artist; experience, portfolio and attitude. It’s great to find an artist that specializes in your type of design (e.g. portraits). By examining an artist’s portfolio it is easy to see their style, strengths and possibly weaknesses. “The artists should be open to answering your questions. They should share in your ideas and enthusiasm for your tattoo. If the artist does not like your ideas or tries to steer you into something you are not looking for, then you might be in the wrong place. Find an artist whom will to give you what you want.” It is an artist's job to give you what you want, don’t be afraid to speak up.

No Turning Back
With all the preparations done, there is one thing left to do, get the tattoo. Being anxious is part of the big day, but getting in a good meal and a good night’s rest is helpful. I was told that eating a bit of chocolate before will cause your blood to thicken and you to not bleed as much. Whether it claimed true or not, I enjoyed it. Some things advised by this site include not taking painkillers because it may increase bleeding, not being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and get any necessary paperwork ready, like an I.D. and a picture of the design if possible. The more still a client is the more an artist can focus on their work.

Take Care
When all’s well and over the artist should share how to care for the tattoo, which consists of keeping it clean, and applying antibiotic ointment. For the first week redness and swelling will occur.

To insure that you get a perfect tattoo you need to do your homework, but the most important aspect of getting a tattoo is to enjoy it!

Top 3

Great Tattoo Blog Sites:

Tattoo Blog: Colors of Freedom

InkedBlog

My Tattoo Blog


These sites were very up to date and provided information about the most recent trends in tattooing.

Those interested in tattooing, those that have tattoos, or those that are thinking about getting a tattoo would be interested in my blog along with these others. Tattooing is an art form and appeals to all sorts of people, young to old, male to female, of all different proffesions and races.

Topic Introduction: Tattoos

Tattooing has become a popular trend in modern times. I recently got a tattoo, something I've been wanting for awhile. These new shows such as Miami Ink on TLC really sparked my interest. I'm a big fan of art, to me this is all just another version.

I had a friend last year who got a tattoo of three stars on her foot. She wasn't eighteen yet, but her mom went with her to get it. I loved the way it turned out and it only made me more eager to get one. My AP Biology teacher would constantly make comments about it. He'd often joke about the health risk involved, one of the reasons I was reluctant to tell him about mine when I went back to visit for homecoming.

At first I was really anxious for one, but slowly I began to second guess myself and if I wanted one at all. It's something I was dying to experience, but I wasn't sure if I was willing to live my whole life with this current desire. I knew I wanted something classy, something I wouldn't regret later in life. I went back and forth many times about what exactly I wanted. I figured I'd choose something religious, because even though I'm not too religious, it'd be something that's meaning is significant and endless. I decided on a dove. A dove can represent many things, much more than I knew before looking into them. I remember hearing the story of Noah and the Ark, the dove brought back the olive branch, a sign of hope. Dove's are most commonly associated with being a symbol of peace, but they stand for numerous things that I value; love, hope and spirit.

The experience was worth waiting for. I'm glad I put in the effort into finding exactly what I wanted . The toughest part was probably asking for my dad's approval. My mom shares my interest in tattoos, she doesn't have any though. My dad fits the whole marine stereotype, a bulldog on his right arm, "USMC" etched underneath.

I like to think that I would've got one slightly after turning eighteen (April 9th) if I wasn't so dedicated to donating blood for our NHS blood drive (May), my parents thoughts might be different. After that month passed I wanted it in time for my senior trip to Myrtle Beach, which was the end of May. That passed too, along with summer. My mom promised me that the next time we went on vacation to Texas I could get my long awaited tattoo. So when we went for my cousin's wedding in September, I wasn't going to comeback without my tat!

I have an uncle covered in tattoos, he choose a place that he knew the owner of, House of Pain Tattoo. He agreed to take me, but it turned into a family event. My grandma, mom and cousin all came with us. I walked in with a pretty good idea of what I wanted. It all happened so fast that it's now hard to remember what exactly I was feeling. The actual tattooing process scared me a bit, something I couldn't prepare for. I'm able to tolerate pain well, and have no problem with needles, like I said earlier, blood drives are a breeze for me, no bother at all. He put the stencil on my back and asked me if it was alright. I'm a reserved person and quiet for the most part, I found it a little higher than I wanted, but didn't want to make him have to do it over, not exactly the time for my timid behavior. Everyone else said it looked fine so I just went along with it. The initial pain I felt wasn't as piercing as I thought it was going to be. Over time the skin got more tender and it hurt a little more, but overall, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The rest of the day I was mesmerized by it. To this day when I catch a glance of it, I'm amazed by it.