The Lowdown on the Tattoo

Yup.  It's a tattoo.  A real tattoo, not an airbrush or henna or art. 

I've wanted one for about two years now, and been too chicken to get one.  I decided a while ago, though, that if I was ever successful with my weight loss, I'd get one.  I never ever thought I'd be successful, ever. But I lost 65 pounds as of two weeks ago, and that, combined with Mother's Day, sealed the deal for me.  I'd been looking for a while for a treat for myself, something to reward myself for all of the hard work I'd gone through.  It was hard, too - the hardest thing I've ever done.

My brother in law has a few tattoos, as does his wife, a couple of my nieces, and a few other family members.  He recently had a new one done, and I was interested - the art was especially nice. There are only a few places around here that you can have a tattoo done.  I knew that my niece had gone to one place and the work was excellent, but VERY expensive.  My brother in law indicated that the newest one he'd had done was really inexpensive.  I am Allllllll about the cheap, so I asked him for the information.  I asked lots of people who'd had tattoos how the experience was, and everyone agreed that it was painful, but more annoying than anything.  Tolerable.  One guy told me that he went to sleep during his.

I spent hours online, researching why I wanted to do this, what I wanted, the negative and the positive.  I found site after site, paid for downloads of drawings, and basically overthought.

Then I grabbed my courage in both hands and went. 

The artist was a big guy, a tough, no nonsense biker.  He took the pictures I had and asked me what I was looking for.  I showed him the various aspects of each picture that I wanted, and he drew up a stencil.  The first attempt was perfect, and he applied it exactly where I was looking for the tattoo to be placed; on my lower back, a bit below the waistband of my jeans.  He ripped up the drawing so that I have an original - he can't give the same one to anyone else. Everything was great. 

And then I realized that I had to go through with it.  I asked if anyone had ever gotten up in the middle and not finished, and he grinned.  "A few have tried, but I just held them down."  GREAT.  I signed the paper, stating that I'd not hold him responsible, I wasn't under the influence of drugs or alcohol and I was over 18 and wasn't coerced.

Don't get me wrong, I REALLY wanted this tattoo.  I really did.  It was my gift to myself for losing the weight - I knew that if I got a tattoo, my desire to stand in front of the refrigerator, sucking down whipped cream from the can would have to go unanswered - the skin would stretch out when I gained weight and it'd look bad.  But the needle.  Oh, oh, oh. 

I sucked it up, straddled the chair, leaned over and presented my bare back. The sound of the needle, when it first began, straightened my back and took my breath.  That was nothing compared to the first prick.

Man, oh man, I don't think I've ever cursed as much as I did that day.  At one point, the artist said to me, "You've got great skin for this.  It's holding the color really well."  "Terrific," I ground out.  "I'll put that in my resume.  Keep drawing."  He laughed and laughed.

His wife came in to see how it was going, and her eyes grew round.  "Is this your first tattoo?" she asked.  "Yup," he answered for me. "She's not being no punk about it either."  From the conversation that followed, I determined that most people don't get such a big or elaborate tattoo at first, but, I've never been one to follow the rules.  He also told me that, despite my constant stream of profanity, I was actually handling it well. I'd hate to see what someone looked like who handled it worse. That was the longest hour I've ever spent.

The design has a few meanings. The ivy is for fidelity, the Irish Trinity knot because I'm Irish, and the six flowers are for six kids - four pink and two blue.  The different color for the flowers was The Hubster's idea.  Speaking of him, he was all for the idea and really likes it.

Me?  I'm so glad I did it and I can't stop looking at it and showing it off.  If I know you in real life, you've undoubtedly already seen it.  I've got to stop doing that.  Oh, alright, just one more picture. 

I don't think I'll ever get another one. It sure is neat, though.

Comments

[Heather]

Well, I think it's cool!! I don't have the guts to sit through one but I love yours! By the way, I've heard that the lower back is the most painful place to get one. You are my hero.

[Chrissie]

I think it's awesome. I love that it has meaning for you too. Of course the first time I saw this picture I thought it was a necklace... :)

My mother (age 58) has wanted a tattoo for about 20 years now. Just a little flower on her shoulder blade area. My dad has said he will leave if she does. We don't really know how serious he is, but we don't just shrug it off. But she still talks about it and i think one day she'll just go and do it. As if my dad could live without her anyway... :)

[Brandy]

I'm too big a woos to ever get one myself, but I am so glad you finally got yours! It's beautiful and now you have one more beautiful thing about you!

[Becki]

I don't think I'd ever get a tattoo, but yours looks really good. Congratulations for losing that weight and for being so brave!

[kalisah]

It's so cool. And so pretty! You did a really great job designing it. I can't believe it only took an hour to get.

[KatieButler]

It's beautiful, Carmen.

[Suburban Oblivion]

You will get another, trust me. Once the pain wears off and the memory fades a bit, the itch will hit you. Just you wait ;)

[Denise]

Wow, that's huge Carmen. I'm impressed! My daughter will be impressed and try to use you as a reason for me to let her get her second one. So, I'm not going to show this to her. hahaha!

[meritt]

Welcome to the land of tatoo's.

One thing you might here from some people is that you may regret it... in 5 years you'll wonder why you did it... blah blah blah.

I got mine when my son was 2 months old, back in 1992. I still don't regret it! :) Although I do have to get in somewhere to have the color touched up now that it's been almost 15 years! :)

I'm glad you went through with it.

[Katie]

I love the meaning behind your tattoo! I really, really want a second one but I want it to be special and connected to my family like yours. My first is a red rose on my lower belly, it even survived 2 pregnancies very well. And yeah I'd imagine a back tattoo would hurt more than mine did, anything over a bone hurts more.

[Elizabeth]

My own opinion is that a tattoo that has as much meaning as this one is incredibly symbolic and meaningful. I actually get a little teary thinking about engraving this record of your family and heritage on your body and enduring the pain for the beauty, and also about how it records your great achievement in losing the weight that bothered you and creating a new body to house your tremendous soul. What do the kids think?

[deborah]

That is very beutiful. And you're not kidding about that being a very painful spot. mine took over an hour and a half. We took break half way through. Now I'm tempted to put mine out there. It represents me watching over my childrten. A mama frog, watching over tadpoles. Very colorful.

[Cass]

Congrats on going through with it. I've been toying with the idea for well over a decade.

[Cindy]

It sure is beautiful! I wish I could have seen it in person ;P. Congrats on the guts, girl! I am so chicken... I've wanted on too, but maybe after the weight is all gone, I might garner some guts...

Did it hurt afterwards at all?

[Cris]

I got my tattoo when I was drunk in Germany by a guy named Gunther. My husband was PISSED when I came home! I love it though-it is in the same place as yours. I have a butterfly-and I want to add to it by making 4 little butterflies below it for each of my children and then putting my husband's name in there somehow. I showed it off to everyone when I first got it-now I like to keep it under wraps. I know it peeks out every once in a while-and I know my husband is secretly turned on by the fact that he is married to a chick with a tat. HA!

[Jo]

It's gorgeous and the meanings behind it are great too!

[Jane]

That's gorgeous! I'm seriously considering getting a tattoo encircling my upper arm. I know what style I want, but I still need to do my research and find the exact design I want.

[crunchy]

Niice...I love mine and am wanting more now!

But I had mine one the upper back and it didn't hurt at all.

[Mama Luxe]

I have a Celtic design, too...mine's all blackwork and also extends across most of my lower back.

[alana]

I think that's the prettiest tatoo I've ever seen. Love the symbolism.

[Sandra]

I think it's beautiful!!

[Chris]

I am just recalling your post about wanting jeans that weren't too low-riding - maybe you should go with the low-riders now to show off your art! :) Or maybe not. And I am also wondering how it is that you keep looking at it? A two-mirror trick? I had a tattoo desire for a number of years, but I always thought I would get one where I could easily see it. I never did, although I have seen some beautiful ones - yours included!

[jody2ms]

Awesome!

I had to LOL when I read about you getting a tattoo, because I have been flirting with Bill about getting one for our 17th anniversary this summer. I just have to decide where and what it will be. We have some friends who are going to take us to their artist in Galveston.

Enjoy!

[Mary Tsao]

Welcome to the Club! Have you been watching Miami Ink? That show has me really itching to get another tattoo. Yours is awesome!

[Elaine]

I love it! It's perfect and meaningful and brilliant! Well done!