I absolutely adore my tattoo I got last November to have as my own personal medals/reminders of my half marathons. I knew when I got it that this tattoo would grow and extend to some degree. I never in a million years imagined that I would challenge myself in December to complete 6 half marathons in one year (which of course meant adding 6 more flowers for 2011!) It would be different if this was the original tattoo that I had planned a simple ankle chain with little flowers representing my half marathons. But, NO, my artist said that anklets were overdone and he wanted to do something more. So, I went with it! And I guess it's truly one of my mottos to "Go Big or Go Home" because it is so much bigger and so much more than I imagined it would be. But I LOVE it!!
After completing my three half marathons this year, Tripp and I were talking about my races. I was still irritated and frustrated over the half marathon in Columbia that I tried to run with a stomach virus. I hate that I had a DNF (Did Not Finish) but I knew I could not complete the race feeling that way. Tripp suggested that since I ran half of that half marathon (my quarter marathon! LOL!) that I should get an unopened flower bud to symbolize the race that I did not complete. I LOVED the idea and decided that it was a perfect way for me to move past that race. I did make it through half of it and with the way I felt that day, it was an accomplishment to make it that far!
So, today was the big day...I went in to see my tattoo artist, Matt Terry at Fu's Custom Tattoos in Charlotte. He does awesome work. I love that I can tell him what flowers I like and he figures out which flowers we will add and positions them and picks the colors. I just have to like the concept he comes up with and so far I have loved what he has done. He was in complete agreement with Tripp that I needed a bud to symbolize my DNF and I was thrilled at his exuberant response!
And though getting tattoo work is uber painful, (Yes, I subscribe to the belief that lying to you that it didn't hurt is just wrong and that anyone who thinks they don't hurt in some way shape or form has not had a larger scale tattoo done or any work done near bone OR has the highest pain tolerance ever!) this tattoo is so worth it! I may have squirmed and occasionally squealed and made some of the most amusing and painful faces ever, but as always, I am thrilled with the end result. My custom tattoo is something that people will ask me about and I will never regret having it done.
(It amazes me the people who mock me or tell me that I will regret my tattoos or question why I would want to do that. I have been told that I will never be able to get a real job with my tattoos either. These were my choices and I don't regret them. And as far as I am concerned, I can get tattoo cover-up for the one on my arm and wear pants if I am ever trying to get a job that has issues with tattoos. And as my tattoo artist says he would like to know what kind of job interview I have that requires me to take my pants off! LOL)
Anyways, I am thrilled with the new flowers added to my tattoo. And although I am terrified to go in for the one in December which will have flowers going across my shin and some really bony areas...I cannot wait to see what Matt comes up with then!!! Here is a pic of my newest addition to my tattoo. (Side note, we also discussed cleaning up the tattoo on my back and adding on too! I am super excited!!!)