Hey there, so, maybe you are thinking of getting a tattoo, already have one, or hate them, everyone has an opinion. I currently have 5 of them, being that I am about balance in the body, I am currently even with two on the right side of my body, two on the left side, and one in the middle of my back. Each tattoo is significant or special in some way, and was thought out before I got them (with the exception of that one time in Vegas, it was a whim, but still holds special meaning). While five is not an even number it becomes even because of the locations. I am not here to discuss all five of my tattoos, but instead just the ones on my feet.
Yep, I just want to tell you about the tattoos on my feet (side note, I am not a fan of feet, which makes all of this a little more interesting). You see I had grandmothers that I love (yes I still love them even though they are not alive, hence the present tense, with the past tense….yes I am breaking grammar rules) very much, despite the fact they are no longer with me. The first tattoo I got, for me it was given, a tribute, or remembrance of my Grandma Wilma. I was 25 and home from college (I went away a little later in life, that story will come later), and knew I was ready. I contacted a local tattoo artist I knew, and he happened to have availability. My grandma’s name is Wilma, so off I went to work on a design. While my grandma was an amazing woman while she was alive, there was not a specific memory that stood out, and made me think, that is what I want. So I opted for Wilma Flinstone, since she after all was a mother, a grandmother, and a strong woman.
A little about my Grandma Wilma, to help you understand. My grandma was fully crippled at 19, but lived to 73. She had Rheumatoid Arthritis so bad that her hands were gnarled. Yet, with all of the pain, discomfort, and challenges she faced, she never let it get her spirit down. She picked cotton in the fields with those gnarled hands, raised a family, moved around, and also did a lot of writing, and research for her genealogy books (back then you looked things up on microfiche films). She was amazing, but also flawed, and she owned that too. I had a close relationship with her, and it devastated me when she passed when I was 13. So for me, it was only fitting that my first tattoo be in remembrance of her, the location I chose, my left foot. My left foot is my more stable foot/leg interestingly enough, not sure if it was at that time, but I can say it is now.
My Grandma May I was not as close with growing up, but as I got older, and when I came home from college I formed a close relationship with her. I would go and see her about every other weekend (we lived in different cities). I spent New Year’s with her one year, toasting her at midnight. I spent a lot of time listening to her stories, about growing up, about the things she loved, and the things she did not. I stuck around California for a few years, with every intention of having my memory of her on my right foot, but I felt it was to be in remembrance, so I was not going to do anything until she passed. Then she turned 100, and I knew I was going to be at her party, so I decided she was going to get to see that tattoo. She was not big on them, though never made me feel bad about the few I had by that point. I was living in Washington state at the time, and asked around for a good artist, and boy did I find him. I gave him an idea of what I wanted, and within ten minutes he drew up a tattoo that took a couple of hours to do.
Have I mentioned how much tattoos on the feet hurt? Oh yes, they are not fun. The first artist had a heavy hand, but there was not a lot of shading or detail, so it wasn’t that bad. The second artist, while his hand was not as heavy, there was a lot of shading and detail, and it took a long time. However, both tattoos were completely worth it. Here I had Wilma on my left foot and May on my right. Grandma May was a fan of hummingbirds and sweet pea flowers, so I knew that is what it needed to be. And on her 100th birthday she got to see the tattoo that was a tribute to her (she liked it, a lot, but still was not a fan). She understood why though, and appreciated the sentiment.
One day I was teaching one of my classes (I teach Pilates, among other things) and a client asked me about them, and so I told her the story, and even though she dislikes tattoos, she appreciated the significance of the ones on my feet. I told her how amazing my grandmothers were, a little of their history, and how I stand on two very strong women, they hold me up. And it is true, if I think I have hardships, I look at my feet and remember the sacrifices they made, and everything they went through, to live as long as they did. She took a picture of my feet, and posted it on FaceBook with a little caption, it warmed my heart.
This is not her picture but my own, and the point to all of this, is the significance of the tattoos. As mentioned I have two strong women that hold me up. I feel their energy in me, helping me to keep standing, keep going, to be triumphant. Two strong women whom I love with all of my heart, and who will always be a part of me.
Thank you for taking the time to read, hopefully this will inspire you to really consider what you put on your body before you run out and do it. They are worth it, but they are expensive, and painful (specifically the feet). I would love to hear about the tattoos you have, and the meanings behind them, please comment and let me know.
Be Your Authentic You 