Of course it was a joke. I could see Nancy's bewildered look as her eyes hardly moved away from my brand new tattoo.
A little history first...
About six years ago, while I lay in a hospital bed that had been set up for me in my brother's condo, I turned to television to desperately escape my own reality at the time, and used it as my only form of distraction. I watched TV 12-15 hours a day. I had been discharged from the hospital for about a three months, and aside from dealing with the news that I was permanently paralyzed, I was dreadfully trying to come to terms with the complications that developed in my trachea, which left me voiceless and breathing from a tracheotomy tube for four months. It was a very trying time to say the least. Having run out of options on what else to watch, I surrendered to the marathon re-runs of the tattoo shop on Miami Beach, Miami Ink (which is actually called Love Hate Tattoo Studios). From first watching the episodes absent-mindedly, I began to see a pattern in the people who were chosen to be filmed. The majority of them brought meaning to the tattoo they had chosen for themselves. It was not just a permanent way to decorate the skin. I also became very acquainted with the staff and their business and personal dramas. After the second day of watching the re-runs, I remember thinking... One day when I can laugh at all this, I'm getting a tattoo as well. Even though I clearly remember thinking the phrase "laugh at all this," I didn't mean it literally. I meant it as "one day when I'm fond of having gone through this experience." Ninety-nine percent sure that this "fondness" would never occur, I made that promise.
In 2008, I remember asking one my dearest friends, Lily, to paint a picture for me. After going through some of her fantastic art, I wanted a painting done by her. I knew she had not painted in a while, and my asking would perhaps inspire her to do it again. When I asked about the painting, she said she would paint me a hummingbird. What? I thought disappointedly. A bird? But, I gracefully asked her why a hummingbird, when I was so infatuated with her other paintings involving the female body. She explained the reason to me and I was immediately intrigued with the idea. (You can read Like A Humming Bird for further info on this topic). After her explanation and my appreciation for the metaphor, I remembered wanting to get a tattoo.
Here I am today. With an amazing piece of art on my upper right arm. I don't even know if it can be called a sleeve, although I have used the word sleeve to describe it. I am not knowledgeable about tattoo terminology, but I know how to appreciate incredible art when I see it. At first, I was trying to get a high school friend who I later found out works at Love Hate, but with his hectic schedule, it was impossible to coordinate a time with him. On a previous lunch date with Nancy and Uriel, I told them about my desire to get a tattoo and being unable to connect with our mutual friend for its execution; I had arrived at a final concept for it which carried an enormous significance for me and was very eager to get it done. Uriel told me about the artist who taught our mutual friend how to tattoo. So, after making an appointment, I went to meet Vince Moisdon at his shop, Colorfast Studios, and talk about my idea.
Vince listened and told me that he was interested in doing it, except that he had a 6-8 week waiting period, which made me feel relieved because it gave me time to grow a pair of ... to endure the pain. He said he would call me once the sketch was done. I don't know how long it took from our initial meeting to finally get a call from him. When he called I had even forgotten who he was.
"Your sketch is ready? Want to come by and see it?" He said on the other end of the line as my mind spun out of control.
I can't really explain how I felt at the moment, but the following things went through my mind very rapidly (not in this particular order):
- F'n A! I am getting a TATTOO!!!
- WOW, it's been six years since I first thought about it and it's finally coming true!
- What if I don't like the sketch? Will I have the guts to tell him?
- I understood that I wasn't laughing about all I had endured, and captured the feeling of gratitude for my life.
- Is it going to be painful?
- Should I use my leg or my arm?
- How will my daughter react?
- Will I like it?
Before I knew it, I was at his studio, speechless staring at his artistic depiction of my abstract idea. I was surprised at its size, but even more dumbfounded at how the drawing surpassed my wildest expectations. I decided I wanted to place it somewhere on my body that was always visible to me. Fighting the urge to chicken out from the pain and have it done on my leg where I have no sensitivity, I assertively picked my right upper arm.
When I got home, I was extremely infatuated with the piece and kind of wanted to tell the world about it, but held back. The few people I told gave me mixed opinions, which only encouraged me more to go through with it. The pain factor was what intimidated me the most. After seeing the sketch, I also googled Vince's name. What I found did not surprise me one bit. The sketch is worthy of being framed and displayed on its own, black and white (although the tattoo is in color).
What I found was an interview of Ami James (owner of Love Hate Tattoos - Miami Ink) where he named the top 5 tattoo artists in Miami. The article, Miami's Best Tattoo Artists - Ami James, was written by Leila Brillson of REFINERY29, and Vince Moisdon's name was on the list along with Federico Ferroni, Chris Garver, Troy Lane, and Luiz Segatto.
My beautiful piece of ink is still in the process of being finished and when it does, I will post pictures. They say that it only takes one tattoo to get addicted. I didn't believe it until I was having mine traced and glimpses of the next one started coming alive in my head... The story for that one will warrant a follow-up blog. I hope Vince is inspired to do that one as well when the time comes.
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| First 2 Sessions... |
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