Marks of Art…

Nivita and Catherine went to Marks of Art on Union oh – about what? 8 years ago.

Catherine then dragged me in a few months later, saying that since she got my name on her, I needed to get her name on me. We don’t remember who did the tattoo, but he did specialize in coverups (names are especially popular he said…)? We figured, well, worst case, we’ll know who to goto and he figured, well, worst case, I’ll get some repeat business.

I went back yesterday to get another one done. They are kind of addicting. Today, though I’m still healing, I’m pretty open to ideas for another tattoo.? I like the idea of Catherine’s face popping through a hole in my skin that she’s ripping open but she is very against that idea. And I didn’t have any traumatizing gingerbread experiences (so far in my life). So I got Salvador’s left footprint (the right footprint has a smeared left toe so that made the decision easy) on my left shoulder (front), right above the collarbone.

I like it (what else can one really say now that it is all done?)? It’s got some shading in there. Creases and such. All 5 toes. I would post a picture of it, but I doubt anyone really wants to see it while it’s puffy and red. I don’t really like looking at it even. I’ll post a picture after it heals. It is shaded, but is still had a good amount of coloring to fill it in – that gave me more understanding of what Ian with through with Sly’s afro…

For my sister, my brother and myself, my grandfather had broken up a bit of his driveway and then laid fresh cement, with our hand or footprints in it. With a penny from the year we were born. I don’t know how he convinced my mother to let us do it – but it was a kick to visit his house and see our prints in the driveway. I have to admit I did try and take the pennies. Not sure if it was for the money or for the connection…

So the footprint idea is a carry over from my grandfather. The shoulder location is along the lines of letting him stand on my shoulders. Hopefully he’ll see a little further with the support that Catherine and I can give him. We were thinking that it should look like the print that would be left if he did stand on the shoulder, but when we were placing the footprint, we found that the print was too small to go over my shoulder like that. So the toes are closer to the collarbone. And it looks more like the print that would be left from Sal leaping off me from my shoulders. No problem. Look around, get a better view, then go…

While I was getting the tattoo, I realized that while I initially imagined it more as a sign for Sal to see and know that he can lean on us for anything, anytime, that I’d probably see it more often. And so for me, it’ll be a good reminder that I need to be there for anything, anytime…