Technolandy

Winter Vacation 1 (of 2024/25) a bonus tattooed christmas tale

My three kids gifted each other sibling tattoos – they each chose a symbol from Gravity Falls. I was then told to be supportive because they were worried what my reaction would be – knowing that I have not been a fan of ink on skin… admittedly for me. I respect the art. I take notice of the permanence and am biased that sometimes/often they are done too impulsively and difficult to recreate or remove. So they know I have long been “not a fan” for me to get ink on my skin. 

But the youngest and my wife got connecting tattoos which got the others thinking about them. And honestly, it surprised and impressed me that the three wanted to do something to connect them. With the oldest being at the University of Toronto, the youngest going to Emily Carr and the middle boy still figuring out what’s next… very cool that they like each other enough to want to symbolize their connection!

But as well, the “not a fan of tattooing” is more about me not having a reason to seek a tattoo. Nothing was ‘that important’. But maybe now, something was!

So I booked an appointment with the same artist the kids were going to (and done the work earlier as well) and let her know my plot…

Kids got their tattoo and admitted that they were trash talking me a bit – along the lines of knowing there was NO way their dad would ever get a tattoo… and the artist had to keep the secret ~ without even saying “I know something you don’t know!” Then I got my skin tattooed…. 

And then a couple days of hiding my skin…

Then we started christmas day with me giving my wife a “coupon” to complete the family tattoo and everyone was stunned when I showed my glasses tattoo… disbelief would be an understatement. They all thought it would wipe right off. They admitted that they were trashing me while they were getting theirs. They were even more amazed to see a second tattoo…

Since my cardiac event, I teased this one: a tattoo of the word ‘stent’ (in comic sans of course) over its location above my heart as well! 

So I went from an ink denier to having two special symbols on my body. (I’m sure I’m also slightly influenced by the passing of a friend who was a strong believer and supporter of tattoos – though he always wore long sleeves when working in schools… )

Just a physical symbol that mindsets can change. And I love my subtle symbol that I can hide under my watchband as the tattoo is for me more than others (well, my stent one is for any EMTs so they will know I have a stent without checking for my wallet…) and I remain the same: will I get another tattoo? If there’s a good reason… same as always – I just didn’t think I’d have a good enough reason until I did!