The Memorial Tattoo

I originally started writing after we received my son's fatal diagnosis.  You can catch up on that blog here.  A wise friend suggested I start a website, a place to update family and friends, knowing that it would be mentally exhausting to talk to people one at a time.  Then two years ago I started this site with blogspot.  There have been over 100 posts written in the last two years, but there continues to be one entry read more times than all the others.  The one about the tattoos.

It was a fun one to write.  Taking the time to look back on all the ink, the reasons I originally got them done, and how they have transformed as I have matured.  I specifically remember getting an email from a mom after she read that entry.  Her adult son was covered in tattoos, and she didn't really understand the point behind it all.  She said my blog helped her understand that tattoos can be a way you share your life and faith with others.  She encouraged me with my writing, thanked me for my honesty, and took the time to remind me what a difference I was making.  Her words won't soon be forgotten.

At the end of that blog post, I promised to update my readers if I ever did decide on a memorial tattoo for my Gabriel.  And if we're friends on FB, Instagram, or even in real life - you know that has happened!



It was my longest tattoo in the making, taking me literally years to finalize the "what" and "where."  It is by far the largest tattoo I have, and the placement is perfect.  It's on my upper, inner left arm, the exact placement of my husband's one and only tattoo.  (Bet you didn't even know he has one.)  It peeks out from a short-sleeved top, but it would take conscience effort from me to show you the entire piece.  Kind of like my Gabriel.  You may not be able to see him, but he's most definitely a part of who I am.  I knew I didn't want it to be in color, since everything else I have is in black and grey, but I told my guy he could add some white.  I am still in awe of how well it turned out.  I love the detail of the feathers in the wing, and the feminine touch of the frame around his initial.  Even the "G" took a lot of research, as most uppercase examples were difficult to decipher, and I wanted it to be obvious that it was for my Gabriel.

As many intentional photos I've taken of the piece, I also love that it accidentally shows up in most selfies.  Because my left side is my best side.  Obviously.

With my little man, both wearing our Gabe shirts.
With my beautiful sister, expecting her first in September!  (A baby, not a tattoo.)

I'm so grateful to Jason Dorrier at Olde Line Tattoo for taking lots of time and patience with me to create the perfect piece to memorialize my sweet little man.  Highly recommend them, if you're ready to add to your own collection.  Thanks for reading, friends!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Table for Six

Image
It's been almost eight years since we had our Gabriel.  Since we lost our Gabriel.  Over the past several years, one child in this family has continued to talk about him the most.  Joel, now nine years old and the only sibling to have the chance to actually meet his brother, doesn't often speak his name these days.  He is, however, very protective of his "Gabey Bear" that he sleeps with every night, and goes to find when he's sad or hurt.  I'm still not sure Ruby, who just turned four, completely understands that she has a brother who is no longer with us.  The only photos she's ever seen of him are obviously baby pictures from the day he was born, but she does usually ask if every random picture she sees of a baby, is our Gabriel.  But our Zoe, almost six, talks about him all the time.  She points out that there is a seat in the back row of our family car, between she and Joel.  "That's where Gabe sits."  And when she asked about the key
Read more

Horrible, Thanks for Asking

Image
Almost ten years ago, I delivered the baby boy who would die in my arms just two hours later.  But we had months to prepare for this reality.  His fatal diagnosis had come sixteen weeks before.  So there was no baby shower.  No celebration of the life about to begin.  We didn't have a nursery full of items we’d have to return with a sorrowful explanation.   That hasn’t been the case for my best friend. Two months ago today, I sat by her side as she tearfully and reluctantly pushed her baby girl into this world.   Silence.   Just the sounds of our gasps at the beauty of her perfect face.   There she was.   The miracle baby no one thought would come.  The one we were all so looking forward to meeting.    In absolute perfect form, but already gone.   It was surreal, like there was no way this was actually happening.   Not again.  Not to my Laura.   It was somehow holy, the thick presence of death also brought the sure presence of God.   It was beautiful, because here sh
Read more

My Tattoos...

Image
I wanted to give some background and explanation on my little pieces of art.  I got my first “tat” (Is it still cool to call them that?) when I was only 18.  I actually got my nose pierced on my legal birthday, and then just a month later I was ready to rebel some more.  Ah, youth…   Truth be told, if I could go back in time and never start this little body modification hobby, I would.  Once I hit my mid-20’s, I realized some of my tattoos had no significant meaning.  In the very least, they didn’t reflect the most important aspect of my life – my relationship with Jesus.   Thus starting my quest to spiritualize what I was working with.  And I can finally say I am very happy with what I have on my body right now.  I would still love a memorial tattoo for my Gabey, but every time I try to decide what to get, nothing ever seems good enough to capture his memory.  So, here’s a tour… My first tattoo is actually the only one you won’t see a picture of.  It’s a Chinese character.  On
Read more