I first wanted ink when I was 18.  When I was 18 I carried my mother’s voice with me everywhere.  And while this didn’t discourage me from the DESIRE to get a tattoo…it did discourage me for getting something I would regret.

And I would have. Because I would have gotten Taz (as in the Tasmanian Devil).

And much as I love Taz – I would have regretted it by now.

So I promptly forgot about it until I got ‘old enough’ in my brain to choose something I loved.

Around 22 or 23 I had the image set in my head…but then the fear held me back. The fear of the pain.

Finally I became determined. Last year I was pointed to  a place to get it…and I started setting it up. My 35th birthday I would finally get my tattoo. It wasn’t the one I envisioned when I was 23 (which I still plan on getting at a later date) – but it was one even more special.

So the day arrived and I gathered my friends close.  My nerves were high, I was so tense, anxious…okay…afraid.

She made the first mark and asked me how it was.

With a huge breath of relief (and surprise) I said “It didn’t hurt at all!!”

From that point the tattoo was smooth sailing.  We talked, joked, pitied the guy next to us getting a tree tattooed across his ribs…at one point I tweeted while getting my ink on.  In the end…I loved it…and I’m planning my next, while trying to convince the hubby to get his.

Getting the stencil set:[flickr id=”5976156176″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”5976156562″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]

First harrowing minutes:[flickr id=”5976156684″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”5975594673″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]

Hey! This is fun! Tweeting & Tattooing:[flickr id=”5976157358″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]

Snoozing & Tattooing (okay, I didn’t actually doze, but I came close):[flickr id=”5975595493″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]

Finished:[flickr id=”5968345333″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]