So … the Y closed the pool for 3 weeks for cleaning and I thought about going to other pools in town to do Aquafit but then I realized that I had a perfect window of opportunity to get some tattoo work done.
I haven’t had any serious tattoos done since my cancer diagnosis over 2 years ago. I’ve had a few tiny ones here and there but nothing major. So yesterday I sat down with my #1 favourite tattoo artist/husband Gerry and he did some work on my knuckles.
I’ve wanted to get my knuckles tattooed since I was a kid. I remember being downtown with my Dad and a motorcycle rode by with a big biker (and his lady on the back). She was wearing a tank-top and had tattoos all over her arms. If I think back to the time (it must have been the late 70’s) she probably only had 2 or 3 tattoos. The guy riding the bike had a motorcycle jacket on and his hand tattooed. I wanted so badly to be part of their tribe.
I remember telling my Dad that I liked their tattoos and he jokingly said “If you ever get a tattoo – I will kill you.”
Well that planted a seed of rebellion didn’t it? Ha ha. As soon as I turned 18 I ran down to my local tattoo studio and got a peace sign about the size of a quarter tattooed on my left breast and that started my journey of collecting tattoos.
Gerry calls these kinds of tattoos (hands/face/neck) job stoppers and I’ve hesitated for a long time about getting my knuckles tattooed. But if this cancer experience has taught me anything … it’s taught me to be fearless.
I mean. I still have fear. I feel it creeping around me every day … but I choose to use the fear to propel me forward towards the things I want.
Everyone always asks me if I have any vegan themed tattoos. Well as of yesterday… I do. ๐ I am vegan because I love animals – and I spend my days making conscious choices to harm-less. Tread lightly. Do no harm and all that jazz.
My plan for the next week is to get tattooed by everyone who works at Tattoo Zoo. I’m so excited. Stay tuned.
“Job-stoppers” maybe, but they can be “Book-sellers” as well.
Cathryn and I are just back from a 1700 km tandem bicycle tour around England, during which we spent a day visiting a couple of e-mail friends we’d never met face-to-face. She is a book artist/teacher/curator, he is a teacher/dedicated cyclist and they also ride a tandem bike, so we have lots in common. And since they are vegan, it was not surprising that the name Sarah Kramer came up in conversation. “Oh yes,” said our friend, “I think I’ve got a couple of her books. Is she the one with all the tats?”
So there รขโฌโ “all the tats” is part of your author’s persona and an essential part of Brand Recognition for your books.
Lots of love,
~ David Miller
Ha ha. That’s awesome. I’m Internationally famous. ๐