I will never forget the feeling in my stomach when I returned home after getting my first tattoo. My father had always been against tattoos and my mother was on the fence about them.
Since I was a kid, I have always found myself obsessed with drawing my arms and hands. I was a big Blink 182 fan, and I used to try and replicate Travis Barker’s ink with markers and crayons.
Unless I won the lottery, I don’t think I would ever be able to commit myself to covering my body as much as Travis has. However, I have dabbled with marking myself up just a bit.
I have five tattoos- all of which have a significant meaning to me.
My first idea of a tattoo came when my great-grandmother passed away when I was 15 years old. Of course, I had to wait until I was of age of getting the tattoo without my parent’s permission, because I knew they would never consent.
Lying across my heart reads my great-grandmother’s handwriting. Everyone’s family has different names for their grandparents and great-grandparents- if you are fortunate enough to have them in your lives.
We used to call my great-grandmother “Great.” She meant the world to myself and my family, as she was a beam of sunshine even at 93 years of age.
My cousins and I decided to get matching tattoos, that reads “Love, Great.”
Another sentimental aspect of my tattoos is the shop I go to and who does my work. I go to Studio One Tattoo in Norwood, Pa.
Studio One is where my late uncle Rainer would go for his work. Rainer was inked up from his head to toes.
There are plenty of great tattoo shops out there, but Studio One has a special place in my heart.
My favorite tattoo that I have to date is one I got in tribute to my late teammate, Jake Durkin. During my freshman lacrosse season, we lost one of the most genuine and fun-loving kids I ever had to privilege of meeting.
I carry a piece of Jake with me wherever I go. Engraved on my body is his number (42) in Roman numerals, along with the wings of an angel.
I like to believe that he is flying over us and guiding us down the right path.
Aside from my beliefs, there are lots of people who like to get inked strictly because of the artwork.
Whether you get tattoos for the personal meaning or simply just the aesthetic, it’s important to remember to inevitable fact that they are permanent.
I recommend sitting on the idea of a tattoo for a few months. One day you could love the idea, and the next day you could hate it.
Good tattoos are awesome. Bad tattoos are not awesome.
What I typically do is I print out the tattoo idea I have and post in on my wall. This way, I pass by it everyday and start to either develop a stronger feeling or steer away from it.
