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423 Connection gets inked!!
- Feb 20, 2010 at 12:05 PM
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- Comments (5) Total Views (148) Everyone can see this journal post.
Part 1
The idea for my mother's tattoo had been forming in my head since before the birth of my second daughter. I felt it should reflect the pride I feel about being a mother and the strength of the kinship I have with my children. Even though my stretch marks serve as a constant reminder of the adventure of carrying and birthing children, I wanted something more deliberately artful.
A design which complimented the ocean waves and crescent moon with star already inked on my back was an obvious requirement. A sun came to mind first, with a mother figure holding her child in the middle. I kept picturing something primitive; perhaps with a Native American flair. I searched the web for an attractive sun graphic...but everything I came upon looked too predictable.
During one of my searches I filed away a design which I didn't give too much consideration to at the time due to its simplicity. It had everything I was looking for in a mother tattoo: mother and child, simply stated, not overly cutesy, timeless, and more symbolic than picturesque.
Originally I had planned on getting my tattoo last May, using my birthday money. Unfortunately, but predictably, the money went to some unexpected bill and my tattoo, already low on the priority list, got postponed. Towards the end of the summer, after an unusually difficult month, my husband had the brilliant idea of giving me a day to myself and the credit card. I was suddenly aware that my opportunity had resurfaced and may not come again for quite some time. Immediately my mind went to the primitive clip art image I had saved on my computer months ago. I printed it out, added the initials of my two daughters and began searching for a suitable tattoo shop.
Quality was definitely important to me, but so was my time and comfort level. I wanted to know exactly what to expect. After speaking with a few people at various tattoo shops around the metroplex I finally found one that gave me a good vibe. The man I spoke to at Love & Hate in Lewisville was very forthcoming about appointment times, which was a welcome relief from the "first-come-first-served" line I had been given by other places. He earned instant points with me when he listened to my idea for my mother's tattoo and didn't snicker audibly and dismiss me as some crazy suburban housewife.
On the day of my inking I told no one of my plans-my dear husband thought I was headed to the mall. Going alone to a tattoo parlor may frighten some women but the people at the shop made me feel very comfortable. My artist, Josh, took me seriously and gave me honest suggestions-such as opting for all blue ink in my design, which, he explained, will age better. The concept of a mother's tattoo was not new to him and he stated that I was not the first to enter the shop with such a request. When I mentioned my mom's group and our pending tattoo excursion he was very encouraging. I knew I could confidently recommend Love & Hate to the 423 Connection gals.
Part 2
An event that had been months in the making finally became a reality for a group of local mom's. Although from different parts of town, backgrounds, and living situations; we all share a common bond as mothers of young children, brought together through the social networking site CafeMom.com. Our group is aptly named 423 Connection since we all reside near FM 423, a busy north Texas vein which runs from where Lewisville meets The Colony all the way through Aubrey.
I'm not exactly sure when the idea of tattooing together first began, but there was an immediate interest among a few members of the group. Scheduling is not an easy task for busy moms. There was a pending birth and the holiday season to schedule around. Besides, we thought it wise to take our time with our selection.
No longer the trademark of rebellion they used to be, tattoos are being used by our generation to honor rites of passage, such as the birth of a child, memorialize a loved one, or display loyalty to a specific group, such as a sorority or university. Today's tattoos are meant to be meaningful and artistic. They are body art in its purest (and most permanent) form.
With the hubbub of the holidays behind us and a fresh new year in front, we were finally able to nail down a date for our outing: Saturday, February 13th. Tattoo experience varied among the members of our group. Some had been dreaming of their tattoo for years, while others hadn't given serious thought to getting one until given the opportunity. Tattoo veterans of the bunch would cheer on the first-timers.
A childhood nickname inspired the design for Amanda Parrish's second tattoo. She fondly recalls her mother dubbing her "Amanda Panda". A panda bear sporting a pink scarf subtly pays homage to the cause that seeks a cure to the disease which claimed her mother's life: breast cancer.
After giving birth to her second daughter in two years, Emily finally had some time to focus on her own body. She chose a Chinese symbol surrounded by flowers, each representing members of her family for her second tattoo.
It was Nicole's religion which persuaded her elaborate piece. According to her, "I am a Wicca so Faeries play an important role in my religion." Her third and largest tattoo depicted a fairy sporting butterfly wings resting peacefully.
Valerie was the tattoo virgin of the bunch, but she braved the needle like an old pro. For her first branding experience she elected a Japanese symbol meaning "love".
Jennifer selected the kanji symbols for mother and daughter along with her daughter's name, "Aubrey" for the piece on her upper back. She can also be counted among the tattoo veterans since this would be her third time under the needle.
By the day of our gathering, I had already received my second tattoo and had no recent milestone worthy of commemoration. So I chose a different form of body art which is also enjoying an increase in acceptance by mainstream society: a nose piercing.
Comments:
yay, i love it! Very well written!!!!
That is so AWESOME!!!
Suze, I love it! What a great way to remember a wonderful day. Thanks!
I'm with the rest of them! You are a beautifully talented writer!
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Perfect! So well written! I'm almost in tears. Thank you soool much for capturing this beautiful event with such eloquent perfection. I'm honored to know you and to be a part of this group!!!
- LEBulldog
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