Got Ink?
JD Rhode
08-31-07
Going
home on the bus a while back was interesting. My hon and I went to lunch
to meet a friend of mine who I haven't seen in, oh, about 3 years or so.
I missed her so much, so it was an awesome start to this beautiful holiday
weekend. We got to catch up on stuff, and we all stuffed ourselves on
good food, too.
I
wore very short sleeves, so all 6 of my tattoos showed. When I transferred
to the second bus headed home, a woman, who I don't know, began telling me that
she just didn't (couldn't) understand the mentality of someone who got
something permanently marked on his/her body. My explanation was such:
"My tattoos all mean something very specific and emotional to me. I
could never get one just because. Having a tattoo signifies a powerful
change and/or memory in my life." I said something like that anyway.
Her
question to that was, "Why can't you just take a picture, keep a
scrapbook, decorate your house... with that memory?" Of course I
believe everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion, and I respect every
thought, but I felt like she couldn't or just did not want to understand.
I didn't want to go into full detail with her, not to mention, I didn't have
the time, but, yes, all of my tatts mean something very special; I wouldn't
have them otherwise. In order of when I got them, here goes:
1.
Blue and Purple Crucifix-This is the only one which also has specific
placement. On my inner forearm just above my right wrist vein, this
signifies my faith in God. It was, by far, not an instant fix, but it is
a reminder that I am loved. In my early teens, I was diagnosed clinically
depressed, and it only seemed to get worse through my twenties. I never
thought I'd make it to 21-I had it planned to kill myself by slitting my
wrist. I still get depressed easily, but I'm over hurting myself for it.
2.
Devil Tweetybird doesn’t have as much meaning, but still. Tweety is cute,
loyal, funny, and sweet, like me, not to mention he’s my favorite Looney Toons
character, but also I can be a devil sometimes, too. My husband drew it
also. He’s (Tweety) on my left bicep.
3.
Phantom Mask-Erik's Phantom of the Opera mask means more than I have the words
to explain. I always get word block when trying to tell people how I feel
about POTO. Has anyone seen any of the movies, read the book, etc?
His character-the Phantom-is a genius, but a genius driven mad by loneliness
and others’ fear and hatred. It's sad. Each version of the movie
varies, but he has a kind of love that just... Ugh, I feel like I'm not
doing this tatt any justice. It sits on
my right bicep.
4.
Purple Dolphin-A guy I respect but don't know anymore told me about dolphins
signifying freedom. This tattoo is an emblem of my freedom from the past.
It also leads in to #5.
5.
Green QFF around my dolphin. QFF stands for Quest for Freedom, my first
novel, which I'm trying to get published. I give people many synopses,
but what it basically boils down to is a man's fight for freedom. (Much
earlier, I posted the QFF
synopsis on here if anybody'd like to read it.) Because tatts 4 and 5
are so close together, though, people mistake them for one.
6.
Red Rose-My connotation of a red rose is unconditional love, mind you, I'm not
exactly sure where I got that, but that's how I feel. I possess the
attribute towards my loved ones, and I hope somebody does for me, too.
This rose has a black bow tied around the stem to also give props to my Phantom
mask, which it is beside as well.
Wow,
try telling all that to a woman on the bus in about 12 minutes. I, for
sure, am getting 2 more, but I don't know when. My next tattoo? A
four leaf clover for the Irish in me…
(Picked
up writing this at another date)
7.
4 Leaf Clover-My clover is beautiful, and it does signify my Irish decent. The Irish bus driver loves it, too.
8.
BC Cross-I really can’t remember if this one is 8 or 9, but the BC stands for
Blue Collar (Tattoo Shop) where we’ve gotten most of our work done. Even when the guys were at the other shop, we
had them tattoo us. They are great
friends, so on their first year’s anniversary of opening their own shop, it was
only fitting to get their logo. I’m one
of them now J
9.
Lightning Storm Cloud-Again, 8 or 9, IDK; I’m almost definite that this one’s
8-I got them mixed up. What person
holding a name like Weather Witch shouldn’t have one of these, right? For the real WW, Eric, whom I write about
often; maybe you know him? I hold the
deepest love for my characters. Unfortunately, it’s on the back of my right
shoulder, so I don’t see it much.
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