
A gift for me
As you all know, I like tattoos. It all began in 1986 and I’m the perfect example of you can’t get just one! When I got the MBC diagnosis earlier this year, it truly derailed so many things and I went (and am still going through) a “to buy/spend or not to buy/spend” mentality. I was encouraged by a dear friend, RM, to go forward with a tattoo because, in her words, “If a tat is something that will make you happy why not do it?” And she’s right. RM made this her gift to me; and armed with that I went to my favourite tattoo artist: @gnometattoo. Lindsay booked me in today (I was her only appointment today and the shop was empty other than her and me). So, in true gaylie fashion, I couldn’t do just the one. The peony was a pared down version of the scar cover up tattoo I had thought I would have done (which was to include peonies, wild flowers, a dragonfly, a lady bug and a bee). I tried to come up with a different design but on the fifth return to a peony, I knew that was the one.
The polaris (north star) tattoo is my “mom” tattoo. Polaris is in the constellation ursa minor, which means ‘little bear’. Mom and I share a middle name, Ursulla, which also means ‘little bear’.
Polaris – right hand Peony – right bicep
My final tally of tattoos is at 15. Tattoo list in order of inking (though I don’t remember the years for a couple of them)ā
- Yellow rose (1986)
- Winnie the Pooh (1996)
- Tiny red heart (1996)
- Anklet of ivy (1996)
- Celtic knot and clover (1997)
- Om shanti (in Sanskrit)
- Chinese character: to be alive (2007)
- “Breathe” (2010)
- “Thrive” (2016)
- Cherry blossoms
- Feathers + half mandala (2018)
- “Leave her wild” with sitka spruce & dogwood flower (2018)
- Frangipani (2019)
- Peony (2020)
- Polaris/North Star (2020)
I am very happy. And isn’t that all that matters?
Live. Laugh. Thrive.ā£
Beautiful.
And wonderful for you!š
That’s a cute one, the North Star.
Those are fabulous and so meaningful!
šš
Iām so happy you are so happy! Your new ink looks great!