I figured I had nothing else to write about, so I might as well write about my tattoo experience. It was kind of spontaneous, but planned. On July 9th, the husband and I decided to go to the beach and hang out. It was a cloudy day, not too hot, not too cold. We relaxed in the lounge chairs, got into the ocean and walked down the beach strip. I kept thinking over and over how I desperately wanted a tattoo. I was looking at the tattoos on people who walked by and I decided I wanted to get the tattoo that day. I didn’t tell Anthony though. I knew if I did, I would’ve backed out of it. I’m weird like that. I like things to be spontaneous.

Therefore, after leaving the beach, I mentioned going by Smiling Buddha, just to look at some of the tattoos they had. The tattoo parlor was about 45 minutes away from the beach and I kept contemplating which tattoo I would want to get. I’ve always wanted a fairy on my body, but since getting married, I have always wanted my husband’s name on my body. Or, something to represent my love for him. We arrived at the tattoo parlor and I knew I was going to get a tattoo that day. I just knew it. I walked inside, my belly started to have butterflies. But, then again, I figured I would just have to poop from being so nervous. I looked at some of the colorful tattoos, mostly the cartoon styles. After 15 minutes of looking around and getting my nerves under control, I told the artist that I wanted a tattoo of my husband’s name in Chinese. I asked for him to look it up on the website, and he was like, you don’t have to, I have a book over there (he points in the direction of the book). I walked over there, searched through the book, and found his name. I was wondering why the symbols were up and down instead of side by side. I kept telling Anthony I wanted the symbols side by side. Then, the artist went into this indepth detail about how Chinese symbols are suppose to go up and down. If you get them side by side it isn’t the same meaning. Pretty interesting huh? After another fifteen minutes of figuring out if I wanted it side by side, up and down, or pink, green, black (kidding), I decided to get the tattoo symbols going up and down on the right side of my back.

I signed the papers, showed my I.D., as my stomach made rumbling noises. I just knew I was going to use the bathroom right then and there, but I held it in. I became more relaxed after discovering that a woman was going to be doing my tattoo upstairs in a private area. The hubby and I walked upstairs behind the woman and noticed how big the studios was. She offered Anthony a seat as she asked me to stand beside her. She put the stencil on my back and I walked to the mirror to check it out. I was very pleased with it, as was the husband. I sat down in the chair with my back facing toward her and my elbows resting on a stool. The hubby held my hand the entire time. She shaved the “peach fuzz,” rubbed it with alcohol, and started up her gun. I got nervous when I heard the sound of the gun, I almost backed out and by this point, my stomach is really in knots. She puts the needle on my back and I was like “ow, that feels like getting my eyebrows waxed.” I was okay with it for …oh about 10 seconds and the pain seemed to never stop. I started to dig my finger nails in my husbands hand. I wanted him to feel the pain, also. He continued to talk to the woman, she she finished up my tattoo. I just kept my eyes closed and wanted to cry the entire time. Let me tell you about the pain. I have heard different views on the pain of a tattoo. Here is my thoughts of it. It feels like someone taking a knife and cutting you back and forth over and over. There is a sharp burning feeling that doesn’t go away. AND don’t let people lie to you and say “oh if you get it on the fatty part, it doesn’t hurt that bad.” It hurts, no matter where you get it. There were points where I wanted to pass out because of the pain. I began to sweat. I focused on the fact that my husband was there with me, holding my hand, and it wasn’t going to last long. It only took about 15 minutes or so to do the tattoo. I vowed I probably won’t get another one. I know for a fact that I’ll never be able to get a tattoo bigger than this one. IT HURT! But, the funny thing is, you’re going through all this pain and you feel like it’s never going to end, then they are like “it’s done.” Then, the pain is done! The spot on my back was sore the next day, or so. It felt bruised. It scabbed over and healed within five days. I love it. I’m glad I got it. I’m glad I got my husband’s name. I love my tattoo. I like to show it off.

Anthony left this morning. He’s back in Iraq. I am in Kentucky after a long drive after dropping him off at the airport. I’m tired. I’m worn out. I want my husband. Only a few more months and he’ll be home for good. G’night!

My new hair cut. Five inches gone.