My First Tattoo – With Love to my Grandads
Recently my family received some very sad news. My remaining Grandad, my Dad’s dad has been given a couple of months to live. He has been living with cancer for 14 years but the drugs originally used to fight his myeloma have led to leukaemia and the specialist says there is nothing they can do.
My maternal Grandad died a few years ago from Alzheimer’s and cancer. And his gradual decline into the harsh life of Alzheimer’s meant he was figuratively gone before he was diagnosed with cancer. Dad’s dad however has lived around 9 years longer than he was supposed to and we kind of expected him to keep fighting forever. It has been a hard couple of weeks for everyone just trying to come to grips with the situation.
I handled it in my usual way, taking everything in at once, realising all the implications and then deciding the only way to stop crying and feeling shitty is to not think about it.
Instead, I got tattooed. In honour of both of my Grandads who I love. Although I do not believe in a god, and I am agnostic about spirits and an afterlife, having this reminder on me means I can never forget where I come from. Even when I’m old and wrinkly (assuming I live that long) and it looks like I have dirt on my arm, I’ll know that I had a life full of family that loved me.
Thursday the 15th of October I went to Tattoo City to book an appointment to have a tattoo designed and decided to look at some fonts while I was there. I had an idea of getting the g tattooed I just didn’t know where I wanted it or what it would look like. The guy from Tattoo City (I need to find out his name) was so friendly and sat with me to have a look. I found a font I liked and he suggested I could get it done that weekend at the Lower Hutt Tattoo Show and he kindly photocopied the font for me to take along.
This isn’t the bigger tattoo I’m planning, so I hope you’re not all disappointed expecting to see that.
I hadn’t planned on getting tattooed so quickly but there is no time like the present. So I rocked up to the Tattoo City booth on Saturday the 17th only to find they were too busy and was sent to Sacred Tattoo.
I was lucky enough to be tattooed by Erin from Sacred Tattoo. Sacred is located in Auckland and usually very hard to get an appointment with. The work they produce is amazing. Erin however was just back from the UK and had forgotten they were coming to the show so she had a spot available right away!
I was expecting tears and pain, but what I got was scratching, a few winces on the bony bits, and a numb hand from the vibrating and the lack of blood flowing in my arm due to the angle I had to hold it. The most painful part was the way I had to twist my arm to get my wrist to sit right.
$150 later and I am marked forever.
I also managed to win a bag of protat aftercare products when the guy on stage called out for any women tattooed on the day!
I can hardly wait till I get the big tatt done which will be revealed after December 25. I am hopefully going to see the preliminary design tomorrow (today really I guess), but I’ve booked the actual tattoo appointment for the 14th of December!
We take off for a week tomorrow (today!) to stay with The Boys dad and my family and to visit Grandad. I’ll still be around but not as much. We fly back very early on Sunday the 8th.
22 Responses to “My First Tattoo – With Love to my Grandads”
I love the tatto, the concept and your story…
I had a similar idea years ago, though I haven’t tattooed it yet…
You see I just got to meet one of my Grandad’s, my mother-side one died when my mother was 15, and my father-side one died when I was very very young, and I hardly remember him, but I remember being afraid and being taken care of, and I sorta remember his voice…
My grandma told me he wasn’t a religious man, he was radically atheist, but the last thing he said before he died was “Ábreme, Pedro”, which translates as “Open up for me, Peter”, referring to Heaven’s door guardian, and that made me think about the afterlife for the first time in my life and how beautiful that story was and having beliefs (in a platonic way, of course, I’m way too rational..) so that’s one of my future planned tattoos! :)
love ^^ (i just got my hair cut!!!)
Ooooh, I bigger one? I’m so excited! I’m glad you had a positive tat experience. I had the same misgivings when I got mine, too, but overcame them long enough to get mine. Yours is in a pretty painful place so it’s great that you didn’t think it hurt. Looking forward to seeing the plans for the bigger piece!
I’m sorry to hear about your grandads, Kim. This will remind you of them, and keep them near you at all times. You are such a sweetheart. If you ever need to talk it out…I’m always here :)
Have a wonderful trip!
xx
That’s really sweet :)
My first (and only right now) tattoo is the Triforce from the Legend of Zelda series. I mostly got it for my dad, who died in 2001, because we always played it together and it’s probably the best memory I have of him.
You already know I love it! and the story behind it is beautiful. Tattoos are amazing, I can’t wait to see plans for the big piece. :)
Aw, that’s lovely! So nice that there was something personal to get that reminds you of the good times.
How sweet!! I’m also getting a tribute piece for my grandpa soon who died of Alzheimer’s as well. The only thing that caught me off guard was the price of yours. $150 for one that size?? So crazy. My wrist piece is just a teensy bit smaller than yours and it was only $80. Maybe yours was more because you got it done at a convention?
$150 is the studios minimum charge, no matter how small it is. It’s fair enough. I’ve heard from someone that used to work at a tattoo shop that if they only charge around $80 they’re losing money on the set up. Maybe it’s a lot harder to get inks and other supplies in New Zealand.
I was a bit shocked at first too, but considering how hard it usually is to get an appointment with these guys, and the fact I didn’t have to fly to Auckland, it was ok.
Just beautiful – all of it. I think it looks amazing, and I love the sentiment behind it. What a score how you got it done too. Can’t wait to see the big one too.
Sorry to hear about the news but what a beautiful tribute.
I didn’t get to know any of my grandads. It’s nice that you can remember them this way.
All the best to you and the family.
The tattoo is lovely, tasteful and meaningful. Good choice.
I am so sorry to hear about your Grandfather and I can say that I know similar feelings to you at this very moment as my Pop was hospitalised this week.
x
I hope he’s alright! x
Thank you all for your lovely comments. I’m glad you like it! :]
I’m sorry to hear the news. It’s a beautiful tattoo and a lovely tribute to them.
First tattoo’s are pretty awesomesauce! Esp cause this one has so much meaning for you :)
Aw. I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandad, Kim. Your tattoo is a beautiful tribute.
xoxo
I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandad! Have you shown him the tattoo? I’m sure he’ll love it is a very sentimental thought.. Looks great too. You’re very lucky to get in with Erin x
I haven’t shown him yet. I’ll be seeing him sometime in the next couple of days when we’re in Hamilton, so hopefully he likes it!
Slick who runs Sacred is the best tattooist in the country and he works with great people. Money should be no object when it comes to tattoos. The investment pays off in the long run, right?? ;)
Kim, I thought your tattoo was beautiful when I glimpsed it at the PPP party – to hear the story behind it makes it even more so. I hope your Grandad is still in the best health he can be and you’re doing ok…
Hey gal
Sorry to hear bout ya grandad and love the reason behind ya tatt its awesome chick…did you like the convention in the hutt and friend and I rocked up to have a lookie, so wanted to get one but decided not to. Will be heading to brisbane this month to attend the britney spears concert hehehe with my best mate so we might get a tattoo of a B to represent our fun travels Ok catch up some time enjoy ya new tatt chicky
JB
Investing will always be worth it. The main reason I won’t be flying to get my tattoos done is the stress involved. I’d like to spend time meeting the artist and creating the tattoo with them before getting it done, it’s so hard when they’re in a different city.
I have put no price limit on my future tattoos. They will cost how ever much they have to (or they won’t be done at all)!
Thank you SO much for letting me know about the convention! It worked out perfectly. So many great artists there!
BRITNEY SPEARS!! I am ridiculously jealous. I do not envy the heat you’re going to experience though. I’d melt.
Looking forward to photos on Facebook. :D
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