Friday was a big day for me. After years of wanting a tattoo, I finally took the plunge. It was a great experience all the way around, and I’m so glad I trusted in Ricky Lahourcade to do it (thanks to his girlfriend Abbe for the recommendation).
"Follow the white rabbit" (photo by Warren Talbot)
It was an hour of nervous anticipation as Ricky made modifications to the drawing based on my rambling statements along the lines of “some color-y things around him - oh, yeah, and make him less cutesy and more edgy.”
The image that came back was more perfect than I could have ever dreamed - a feisty little rabbit with funky clothes and twinkle in his eye.
We spent the next two hours in Ricky’s workspace with my arm stretched out, hard rock music playing (loud enough to almost drown out the sound of the tattoo gun), and talking about everything from tattoos to Las Vegas. My brother told me it would help to talk, and he was right.
When you get a tattoo they first put the image on your body like an iron-on transfer, and then the outlining begins. This part stings, but it is bearable. My friend Debb showed up as soon as the outlining was done, and she kept Warren company while I got the tattoo colored in. Ricky probably isn’t used to having an audience while he works - especially one with a camera and video - and I’m so thankful he’s a nice guy who let us geek out over the whole thing.
When it was all over, I was very pleased with the result. It was exactly what I was looking for.
The next day I was talking with a friend about why we were doing all these “crazy” things so close to our departure. I’m not sure if we’re finally feeling free to be 100% us (since these are all things we’ve been wanting to do for ages), or if it is because we still have the support of family and friends and that makes it safer. Either way, it has been a very adventurous few months.
We put together a little video of the tattoo experience and hope you enjoy. (if you do not see the video, click here)
If you were going to get a tattoo, what would it look like and why? (extra points if you tell us where you’d put it)
*Many thanks to Larry Kaminer for coming up with the title for today’s post
About Betsy
Isn’t it amazing how much we (OK the universal we but more specifically ME!) can allow ourselves to be manipulated by the world (aka: work) from expressing who we are?
What a wonderfully inspiring post to greet me on Monday morning. Thanks Betsy!
It’s funny, JLouise, I’ve been thinking about this (and the nose piercing, and the blonde hair) for a long time. It is only now that I feel comfortable enough to do those things. I’m not sure if it is the fact I’m turning 40 this year and feeling more “me” than ever before or if it is a result of us taking off on this big adventure and just feeling braver in general. Believe me, selling everything you own is far more of a risk than getting a tattoo! Either way, I’m glad it was inspiring to you. Have a great week!
You did so well…
I was considering a tattoo a few months ago. I decided against for several reasons: I always change my mind about my dress style, I am a huge baby when it comes to pain and I didn’t want to make an emotional decision.
With that said - I was going to get a small koi fish tattoo, but hadn’t decided where. There are a lot of meanings to koi fish. The meaning of koi fish that attracted me was the koi representing a new beginning after overcoming a difficult adversity. I have overcome huge obstacles in my life this year, and with changing to a full-time nomadic lifestyle - I have had a new beginning!
Hi, Raine. Tattoos are definitely not for everyone, but I think the story in this is to fully embrace who you are and what you want to do even if it doesn’t fit with anyone else’s idea. If you are living a full-time nomadic lifestyle, I’m guessing you could even impress a big burly guy with a sleeve of tattoos. It certainly impresses me! We all have our own expressions of living full out, don’t we?
Wow! Great that you video’d the whole experience. You are brave, and the tat looks cool (Matrix is my fave film ever)!
Ah, Tony, we would be fast friends. I could watch that movie over and over for all the symbolism about the way we live. (although I hated the actual white rabbit tattoo in the movie)
Be careful they can be addicting.
You know me so well, little monkey. I was just talking with my brother and we’re considering getting a small matching tattoo when I go to visit him in NM to remind us of each other while I’m traveling the next few years. It seems like it would be really cool to touch a small 4-leaf clover or something like that and think that he could feel me thinking about him. A little weird, maybe, but meaningful to me.
It seems that every day you do something small that makes me love you more. Then there are those days when you do something big that makes me fall in love with you all over again. I am so happy to share my life with someone so open and willing to share who she is on her sleeve (literally now).
I am proud of you for being taking the leap and cannot wait to see what will happen as we explore the world together.
I love you.
Wonderful, sweet, brave and all around awesome you can share your love and the ride with the rest of the world.
I sometimes think you are more excited when I make these statements (and discoveries) about myself than I am! We have many adventures ahead of us, and I’m so glad we’re doing them together.
Awwwwwwww so sweet. You two are great!
While I will never actually get a tattoo (after being a massage therapist for a decade I saw what they look like when you’re 70!) I really liked the yin/yang salamander tattoo one of my younger clients had, it was VERY cute as well as meaningful. It looked great on a fit 25 year old body : )
Hey, Michelle. 70 is not old anymore, and even if I am a bit wrinkled by then I think it will just add character to the rabbit. He’ll be old and wise instead of young and adventurous.
I wish I could draw the visual I got of your rabbit when you’re 70- LOL!
Betsy,
Thank you so much for sharing your tattoo experience with us! I have always been curious about the process and your willingness to video the whole thing really shed a lot of light! I really wanted to be there with you, cheering you on, even though we’ve never met!
Thank you for your blog and for your courage! Keep the great posts coming!
Hey, Cookin’ Joan. This is what is so cool about our little tribe of adventurers. We can cheer each other on virtually. I love knowing what you guys are doing just as much as I like sharing our stories. We’re all in this together, and it is so much more fun if we can share in our adventures along the way - even if we pursue different things. Thanks for cheering me on!
Now you have to choose and red or blue pill lol
I’ve been wanting a tattoo for a while but my fear of pain has kept postponing it…..but someday I shall have the word POSSE on my left wrist and the word ESSE on my right wrist!!!
Posse and Esse? Please explain - I’m really curious about those names and the placement!
http://www.nyprr.com/latin_for_lawyers_bookmarked.pdf
I have heard the phrase said several ways , but essentially its AB POSSE AD ESSE.
I want POSSE on my left wrist first (simply cuz we read left-right) to motivate/help achieving my goals. Later, when I achieve my goals then I would have “earned” ESSE on my right wrist.
AB [L. motion away from a fixed point]
From, away from.
AD [ L. direction towards, in the direction of]
With, towards.
IN POSSE [L. in + possum, posse / to be able to]
To be possible in the future. Potential.
See IN ESSE; POSSE
POSSE [L. possum, posse / to be able]
Used in the sense of maybe or possibly, or to denote something which may
happen in the future. Also, a group of persons organized to preserve the public
peace or to pursue a fugitive.
—-
IN ESSE [L. alive, in being]
In being; in existence. Contrasted with in posse, which means in the future,
not yet in existence. A child is in posse before birth, in esse after birth.
Very cool, Lucy! Thanks for sharing the explanation. A tattoo only has to have meaning for the wearer, but it is nice to have one that invites conversation so you can share the message.
Congrats Betsy! Thanks for sharing with us, its a very liberating feeling to get something so permanent done isn’t it?
I haven’t been brave enough to venture onto my forearms yet and only because of my fear of being judged at work (as you have all been discussing above). I sometimes think though that having them hidden helps me feel like I’m somehow protecting myself from becoming completely absorbed into that corporate world.
Very inspirational and I love the design!
Hidden proclamations of independence are pretty cool, too, Brian. Like knowing a secret…it gives you an extra little spark. I like your statement that it protects you from being absorbed into something else.
Its AWESOME! Absolutely gorgeous.
Betsy, you are all kinds of awesome! Love how you are totally living life on your own terms.
Thanks, Amy and Miss Minimalist. This was so much fun to do, and I feel stronger every single day about being more “me.” I had to show my license today and the clerk told me he liked my new hair much better than the hair on the license. He said it seemed to fit me better - and he didn’t even know me! Funny, that.
This is fantastic!! I love the rabbit and all of the meaning behind it. I’m not sure if there is any significance regarding the placement on your arm but it looks great - very bold, like you!
For me? I’ve settled on a peacock feather (really peahen) but haven’t been able to figure out where to put it. I’m now contemplating something up the ribcage. There you go again, getting me thinking!
Congrats Betsy!
Hey, Julie. A feather sounds beautiful, though a ribcage tattoo seems like it would be more painful. I’m going to keep getting mine where I have the most fat. I’m only sorta brave.
Hey Betsy, I love the new tattoo, it’s great! And did I miss something? When did you get your nose pierced?
I have 2 tattoos, on my left ankle a pink rose in a heart shaped vine and just a pink rose on my right foot (on the top part so it’s very visible!). Obviously I love pink roses! I love them and would love to get a couple more. My son’s partner has just been really ill and I promised that when she got better and came out of hospital my treat to myself would be a new tattoo (I was thinking of a bluebird of happiness on my left upper arm) but then I decided to spend the money on a donation to ICU instead as I felt that had more value to my life at the moment. But………… I don’t think I’m done with the tattoos just yet
Hi, Judy. I got my nose pierced almost 2 years ago - my first act of rebellion after we decided to take the trip!
I’m so happy your son’s partner is doing better and that you made your money reflect your values. We don’t always do that, and I’m always impressed when someone remembers to thank those who helped them through a rough time.
Congrats on the tattoo! I love that rabbit! I have a very small tattoo on the inside of one ankle (nothing really special - just an orange and blue tiger paw because I was at Auburn at the time). Maybe I had prepared myself for the worst pain imaginable since it really didn’t hurt as much as expected- haha. It just felt kind of like a cut for a day or so. Not sure I’d want to brave getting one as large as yours though - it has to hurt a lot more! I’ve never really thought of getting another, so not sure what it would be if I did! Since mine isn’t that visible and can be easily hidden, it’s really funny when people notice since everyone always seems so surprised that I have a tattoo at all.
Traci, it does hurt like a cut or a bad sunburn, and today it is flaking off like crazy. Ricky said it would act just like a sunburn that way - it looks like I have confetti trailing behind me wherever I go.
Long sleeves are in order for the next couple of days.
Ah, yes, I remember that also - the next phase (if it hasn’t already started) will likely be itching. That was my least favorite since it’s not really good to be scratching at it!
I love it! I have a thing for rabbits so I might be partial.
Awesome Betsy!! I had no idea you guys did this until I was catching up on your blog! And I admit, I’m one of the people who says “it didn’t hurt much.” That’s true if “not much” means you’re OK with a cat repeatedly scratching the same area of skin for about 1.5 hours! You did fantastic and it turned out GREAT!