I was 14 years old when I got my first tattoo...Coming from a family that had a lot of tattoos and looked at them as meaningfull memories of art, I always wanted one. It was spring and my sister told me that she had to leave soon and had an appointment to get a tattoo. I begged her to take me, but it was not in her say. The tattoo artist was a family friend and knew my mother quite well, I then called my mom and begged her, saying all I wanted was a simple word "Strength" on my wrist. She told me that is would be marked on my body forever and if I was ready to get one. Of course I said yes and then asked my mom's fiance, both agreed. I remember sitting in the car for the longest time, waiting for my sister to get gas. I was shaking from the anxiety of getting one for the first time. Remembering what others had told me, "It feels like a painful bee-sting" But I was ready for this. The tattoo shop was small and sort of crowded, I decided to let my sister go first. Watching the fine lines of details of a owl in a blue tea cup. This only took about a half hour, I soon sat down and he cleaned my wrist. "Don't move" he told me. The buzzing started and I quickly turned my head to talk to my sister. The fine tip touched my flesh and I felt a burning pleasure. Before I knew it, it was over in under 15 minutes. I looked at my wrist and knew that it was worth it. All the myths about the wrist being one of the most painful ones went out the window, because I was surprised I didn't hurt that bad. Later on at school I got a lot of bad remarks, people and teachers saying I was too young to have a tattoo. That tattoos were sins, and my mother was bad at parenting. Also that I was too young and too stupid to know what real strength was. But I didn't mean strength in a physical way. I grew up in an abusive home and constanly was told I was worthless. After dealing with my parents divorce, I started self-harm, then going into therapy. It was a constanly struggle at home with a broken family, and I wanted to look at my wrist everyday knowing I had gotten through it in one piece.
I was 15 years old when I got my second tattoo...It was March, and I had asked my brother to take me to the same artist as my first tattoo. He then agreed, and I woke up then next day to a blizzard. I called my brother asking if he was still going to take me, though the roads were very icy, he still was. Call me crazy or not, I thought the tattoo was worth it. I got all ready, and we decided to head out. When driving down the road the snow became to worsen, it was difficult to see and I told him to just go back. He said it was alright, and we started to swerve on ice. When we finally got there, the aritst misunderstood and set an appointment for me for the following week. Knowing that I really wanted it that day and had cash in hand, he set up shop and started tattooing me.This was the tattoo that had told my best friend that he'd be the first one to see it. Sadly, he had taken his life the month before, but I still knew he'd be seeing me getting it, and be the first one to see it. Being very ticklish on my back, I started to laugh. The needle had turned my pain into laughter. Within an hour it was finished. I looked at my back to see a Dead and alive tree twisting together with a pink carnation growing out the side and birds flying away. I loved it instanltly. I knew I'd get a third one, sometimes soon. I always do. At first when others looked at my back they'd just saw a pretty tree. But they didn't know that dead part resembeled my past. After being in therapy, my dad had done some awful things. I then went to court to get a protective order against him for two years. I had finally felt free for once in my life, thus the birds flying away. I knew that my future would be so much better without him, therefore the alive tree. Even though I am free and my future will be better, doesn't mean I won't have problems, thats why they are twisting together. But the pink carnation resembles my mother, she had always helped me become a better person, and so I knew she had to be apart of the tree too.
I do plan on getting a lot more tattoos. I don't care if people judge me for them. Yes, every tattoo will hurt, but its a painful pleasure. It is part of the experience. I cannot describe what it feels like, the best thing you can do to feel it, is just to get one. No, I don't care if you say "You won't get a job with all of those," Only 37% of jobs won't hire because of tattoos. I highly suggest you go to a professional to get one. Never be afraid to get one, they are meaingful memories of art.
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