Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.

Before my brother left for deployment to Japan, we decided to get our family crest tattooed . Colt did the research, I helped design, and Tim made it happen. We took the family symbols out of the crest and put them inside a circle.

My tattoos have all been based around my family. My first one was of course on my 18th birthday. I had been counting down the days. My grandmother had gotten me this ring and somewhere along the way the ring had been mis-formed and I could no longer wear it. It was a intricate Celtic like design of a cross, so on my shoulder blade it went. A couple years later I incorporated it into my shoulder piece. At that time I added a bird with a key around it, and one of the auspicious symbols of Buddhism, all of this immersed in a paisley pattern.

I realized there is a cycle with when I want to get a tattoo. Generally the idea comes quick, but almost always after following some grand event. Grand like, I have grown up a bit, grand like my heart has been broken, grand like grief has finally profoundly effected me, and grand like I have discovered some sort of life secret.

And now my brothers and sister continue on that same path. Transforming their emotions and adventures into some aspect of art on their body.

This is Colt’s latest one, and it floored me. Tim Bobeck is the artist who has done all our work, and he continues to amaze me.

The last tattoo I received was this.

I thought for certain I would never put actual words on my body. But the meaning suddenly was so incredibly overwhelming, and I wanted a reminder to myself that the life I wanted to live must be filled with compassion. And when I return to Tennessee, I plan on surrounding it with beautiful patterns from my upper arm to my elbow (a true sleeve)

Filed under: adventure, Art, travel on November 4th, 2010