Got my first tattoo! Dial up warning - pics

[Tripper11]

So the story goes, I have been wanting a tattoo for quite a while. I was never sure about what I wanted. Unfortunately 3 years ago, my brother passed away due to leukemia, and so I knew I would want some kind of memorial tattoo. Again, what?
I had been planning a trip home(Ontario) for a wedding and to visit with my family, including my niece and nephew, who have grown into a couple fine young adults.
In talking to them, they mentioned something about getting tattoos, and that their Dad, my brother had told them a while back that he wanted them to get nuatical stars, like he had. Kind of a family thing.
I seized on that, and told them I was game.
We went down to the local tattoo shop, Sugar Shack Tattoo in Kincardine ON.
They told us they had walk in days on Friday, but we would need to be there by 4am to sign up. We went. There were 5 other people there before us. We though we would be hosed.
The artist that was doing the walk in's was leaving for New York at 4, and he would not likely be able to get us in, but they would try.
There was, however, another possibility. There was another artist, Jarrko, who had an 11am appointment, but they couldn't get hold of that person, and if that person didn't show up, there was a good chance, he could get all 3 of us in.
As it turns out, that artist, knew my brother, he went to elementary school with him, and had done a couple of his tattoos. Sadly, he didn't know that he had passed away.
Jarrko became very determined to help us make this happen. The guys at Sugar Shcak were awesome, always communicating with us, encouraging us to be patient, that they wanted this to happen.
Finally about 11:30am, Jarrko came out and we were on.
We told him what we were looking to do, and he drew up the designs, and we loved them.
Away he went.....

The start of mine...


Mid stream...


The final tattoo, a nautical star with a banner with my brothers dates, and his name....I love it!!!


My nephew is next....


Done....


My niece....


Tattoo complete, a little more elegant...


The gang of 4!


I was so happy to spend a ton of time with these kids. They are great kids, and despite losing their Dad, have become fine young adults with very bright futures ahead of them
It was a very good healing and bonding thing to do.
Their Dad, my brother, would be proud.

[lunatica]

1. I got all choked up

Thanks for sharing this. I believe your brother would choke up too.

[Amaril]

2. What a beautiful memorial!

You had me tearing up over here as well. With this simple act, you have bonded with your brother's children in a way that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives......and not just on their skin.

Hugs & blessings to all three of you! :grouphug:

PS......nautical stars were a perfect choice!

[auntAgonist]

3. Beautiful work! Thanks so much for sharing.

I may just have to call them and make an appointment for one of my visits to Ontario. My home isn't far from Kincardine so it would make a great day trip for me.

What an awesome thing for you all to have done.

aA
kesha

[Tripper11]

4. They're awesome...

Very good, very customer friendly. Oh and very busy. They are booked through the New Year.
They have people, with Kincardine connections coming from Britian, Scotland and all points in between.

[auntAgonist]

6. That's impressive !

I went to and bookmarked their web page. Kincardine isn't far from K-W area. Used to drive through there all the time on our way to Port Elgin.

Your tats are a fitting tribute to your brother.

:hi:

aA
kesha

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. VERY cool. You should ask the mods to move this to GD so we can recommend it.

On a surface level, I'd say a tattoo thread, in The Lounge, is in its proper place. But you have a story that goes beyond the tattoos and I'd bet that this is a sure-fire contender for the Greatest page.

I've sat on the fence for a LONG time. I have a client who is a Hiroshima survivor, who wrote a book about it, and who was raised by his dad according to the code of the Samurai. So I'd like a Japanese character...kanji, whatever...that makes a bold statement about the life I've lived. I've been blessed in ways I can't articulate but I knew early on that it was not my fate to work in an office, have 2.5 kids, etc etc etc...so there is something in the Samurai code that I am sure expresses my attitude toward the life I have tried to live, and will continue to live until the day that I die, and THAT will be my "ink."

As soon as I can afford it, that is. I read a post by someone the other day about getting a tattoo and when they shared the price tag I had a friggin' heart attack...even though the local artist and parlor are considered among the very best.

:patriot:

[Tripper11]

7. Mine wasn't really too expensive

I paid under $200

[Odin2005]

8. Awesome!

[applegrove]

9. What a great thing to do. I'm sure your brother is touched wherever he is.