Well, apparently yesterday was National Tattoo Day. It seems as though ever single day is a National Something Or Other, but I thought I’d use this particular one to share my tattoos. I have five of them, all received after the age of fifty. The first one to celebrate my fifties. (I planned to get only one, but you know how that goes!)
I know everyone has varying opinions about the subject- they are cliche’ and trendy vs. they have been a form of self-expression for centuries, they are an art form vs. they look “low class”, they are beautiful vs. they look trashy. You get the idea! I hid mine from my parents (especially my dad!) for quite a while. But, it’s pretty obvious which camp I’m in. I’m past the age of having to interview for jobs or fit into a certain “look”. More importantly, I’m past the point in my life where I care what other people think. I think tattoos are fun! All of mine were very intentional and all of them hold a special meaning for me and, when I look at them, I’m reminded of all of those things.
Here’s each story:
Tattoo #1) three messages, from my three kids, in their handwriting
#2) my message to them each time I would drop them off at school, with grandparents, at friends’ homes.
#3) message from my husband in his handwriting, along with a lotus flower which stands for rising up and blooming through hard times. A reminder that I could make it through an extremely hard and trying time in my life. (P.S. I did!!)
#4) a wreath with vines and the birth flowers of my three children with their names hidden in the stems. I got this one on my “birth” day- February 15- my middle child’s birthday. It had come to a point where people didn’t realize I had more than two children. So this was a gift to myself because when you birth a child into this world and raise them well into adulthood, you kinda want people to know they exist. So, I’m announcing: I have three children- Chelsi Kay Schuster Woehlke, Jamey Dale Schuster and Colbey Ray Schuster. They are my world and beyond.
#5) a beautiful door, which stands for welcoming, chosen and designed by one of my favorite former students, who is now a tattoo artist. When she sent the idea to me, there was no doubt that I would be getting another tattoo. This one is right side up to other people with my arm down and right side up to me when my arm is bent, so I can still see it . I will never get a tattoo that I can’t see. Anyway, I love everything about it! Thank you, Hilary Pacanowski!
So, no more hiding (sorry, Dad!), I’m letting this art work shine!
Have a great day! Juli
No comments:
Post a Comment