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jennsmidlifecrisis

jennsmidlifecrisis

Tag Archives: tattoo

Daily Prompt: Tattoo….You?

01 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Faith

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Daily Prompt, DP, faith, midlife crisis, tattoo


Even though there are great post ideas in the Daily Prompt, I rarely do them because my brainpower, much like my hand-eye coordination during timed video games, is a tad…sluggish… By the time I complete a daily prompt, it’s weeks later and anyone who did the prompt or the challenge has moved on. But this one caught my eye, because in May of this year, I wrote about why I wanted a tattoo. So for those of you who missed it, here it is again…only this time, I’ve included a picture of the final product so you don’t have to wait until the next day! To check out other “tattoo” posts and pictures, click here.

***

To those who would criticize my decision to get a tattoo:

This is a deeply personal decision. Please try to understand that, for me, this is not:

  • A crazy, mid-life crisis or hormonal thing. Over time I have carefully considered the pros and cons, the opinions of those closest to me, my reputation, and what sort of example I would be setting for others.
  • An act of rebellion. Defying gravity while attempting to walk gracefully in 4″ heels is rebellion. I passed the sullen, moody teenager stage a long (long) time ago, and even when I was there, my “rebellious days” didn’t provide any material for an after-school T.V. special (with the exception of having a baby at 16 – that wasn’t rebellion. That was insecurity)!
  • A hasty decision. I have thought long and hard for years, not just about whether to get a tattoo, but where to get a tattoo and what it would be. This is permanent, unlike hair dye and jeggings, so I can’t do it on a whim. A whim would be “Yes, I do want fries with that?”
  • To be part of the “in” crowd. I listened to my mother when she asked me, “If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you jump off too?” but I have to say, I don’t have that many friends, and those I do have, have never suggested I jump off any bridges. Maybe I chose my friends wisely!
  • Just a decoration that I will some day regret. It would be an identifying mark filled with meaning, an expression of who I am.

Figuring out who I am will take a lifetime, so instead I considered what I most value and chose a symbol to represent that value. I chose a cross because it is the identifying mark of a Christ follower, and my faith means everything to me. The cross was both an instrument of torture and the greatest expression of love. John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 3:16 was the first verse I learned as a kid – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I also didn’t want a design that was pretty…I wanted a design that was as hard as…well, nails! I want it to be an outward display of my lifelong commitment.

Cross tattoo 3

cross tattoo 2

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Inked!

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Faith, Foolishness

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

adventure, boots, faith, humour, midlife crisis, tattoo


I am officially inked!

I believe my reasons were honourable. Wednesday “morning” (they open at noon), my friend & I arrived at the Tattoo Parlour to do the “dirty deed”. We had visited the week before to ask questions a whole lot of questions, including “can you do something like this?”, and I showed them the necklace I had chosen. I set the date and paid my deposit.

What do you wear to get a tattoo on your shoulder? How much is it going to hurt afterward (i.e., will I be able to stand a bra strap)? After my morning shower, I tried on several outfits – tank tops, a sundresses, etc. It would have been easier if it had been a sunny day. I finally settled on jeans and a strapless bustier (that is now too big after all the weight I’ve lost, and threatened to spin around entirely). Yes, I felt a little overdressed and very skanky, but it was muggy outside and I didn’t have to worry about straps. Of course, an adventure wouldn’t be an adventure without my sassy green boots!

I was nervous on the way over, so I picked up Henry (O Henry) in a convenience store. He calmed me right down. Then my friend asked the guy in reception if they numbed the skin first. Like that’s something I wanted to think about right then! He said some places do, but it’s better to get the full experience. Gulp! He also said it felt like being snapped with an elastic. My big brother was a pro! I was going to be okay

Once the paperwork was done and Tyler, my artist, was all set up, he took me to his cubicle, to explain the procedure. Tyler was built like a football player, over 6′ tall and broad, with a long, fuzzy red beard, and large ear plugs. His cubicle was decorated with an eclectic blend of kitschy memorabilia. How appropriate that I would have a whimsical tattoo artist!

After the explanations, Tyler applied the stencil, and I had to check the location. Stencils can be removed!

REALLY bad picture of me - I'm making a face at my friend!

REALLY bad picture of me – I’m making a face at my friend!

Next I watched him open the packaging and put together his instruments. Everything is disposable so there is no possibility of cross-contamination. Next, I lay on the table and using water, he gave me a shot so I could see whether I could handle the discomfort. Yup, still good! The actual tattoo took less than 10 minutes. And we were on our way!

Ready for the reveal?

 tattoo2 tattoo3

Do you have any idea how hard it is to take a picture of your own back?

Happy Weekend!

Why I Want a Tattoo

30 Thursday May 2013

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Faith, Foolishness

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Bible, faith, midlife crisis, tattoo


To those who would criticize my decision, please understand that for me, this is not:

  • A crazy, mid-life crisis or hormonal thing. It may have started that way (I can’t afford the red convertible) but over time, as I’ve considered the pros and cons, the opinions of those who matter to me, etc., it has evolved into something more.
  • An act of rebellion. Defying gravity while attempting to walk gracefully in 4″ heels is rebellion. I passed the sullen, moody teenager stage a long (long) time ago, and even when I was there, my “rebellious days” didn’t provide any material for an after-school T.V. special (with the exception of having a baby at 16 – that wasn’t rebellion. That was insecurity)!
  • A hasty decision. I have thought long and hard not just about whether to get a tattoo, but where to get a tattoo and what it would be. This is permanent, unlike hair dye and jeggings, so I can’t do it on a whim. A whim would be “do you want fries with that?”
  • To be part of the “in” crowd. I listened to my mother when she asked me, “If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you jump off too?” but I have to say, I don’t have that many friends, and those I do have, have never suggested I jump off any bridges. Maybe I chose my friends wisely!
  • Just a decoration. It would be an identifying mark filled with meaning, an expression of who I am.

But figuring out who I am can take a lifetime. So instead I considered what I most value so I chose a cross because it is the identifying mark of a Christ follower. The cross was an instrument of torture and the greatest expression of love. John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” And John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The first verse I learned as a kid.

I also didn’t want a design that was pretty…I wanted a design that was as hard as…well, nails! I want it to be an outward display of my commitment.

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

If you’re still interested, I’ll show it to you, tomorrow!

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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