I am Now a Tattooed American

Yesterday was a big day for me - I got my first tattoo.  It's something I've wanted to do for 10 years, but just never really had the money to do it.  I figured being that it's been 10 years since I've been this weight - it's only fitting to do something drastic to celebrate my accomplishments.

My dad is COVERED in tattoos, my mom has 1, and my brothers each have a couple.  I thought it was only fitting that I join my family and their desire to be "inked".  We got to the tattoo shop around noon yesterday, and I can tell you that my heart was racing.  Having your first tattoo is really like having your first child.  You hear so many different versions of what the pain is going to be like - you literally freak out!!  Steve (my hubby) was also getting his first tattoo, so I opted to go first - just to be sure that I didn't chicken out...LOL

Sitting in the chair waiting for the artist to get ready is probably the worst part about getting a tattoo.  You're sitting in the chair, psyching yourself up for the moment....it seems to last forever...and then you hear the "buzzzz" of the tattoo gun.  I almost jumped out of the seat when she first turned it on.  Luckily she was just getting the needle ready, and not starting.  It was finally time to get started, and my dress had wet handprints on it from the sweat from my palms. 

I will have to say, that when she first started doing the outline for the tattoo my nerves started to get in order.  The best way I can describe the "pain" is to say it felt like I was being scratched with a sharp pencil.  It was irritating, but definately nothing I couldn't handle.  I felt much better about the procedure after the first part was over.  When the outline was all done, the gem of a tattoo artist sprayed my shoulder with lydocane so that I would be mostly numb for the coloring part.  That was so nice of her.  I really didn't feel any of the coloring, except for some minor scratches here and there.  The whole thing was a piece of cake!!! 

Steve got his done in half the time I got mine - but his was a lot less detailed.  We were still in the shop for 4 hours, though.  After we left, my shoulder was kind of sore.  When the sun hit the tattoo, it felt like I had bad sunburn - but again, nothing I couldn't handle.

Now, for the next 6-10 days, I have to take special care not to irritate my shoulder.  This should be interesting when bootcamp is involved.  I spend a lot of time on my back doing exercises there, so I just hope I'm careful enough not to irritate it.

So, I'm happy for yet another big change to myself - a permanent one.  For anyone that asks "ewww, what's it going to look like when you're 80?"  I will respond "old and wrinkly - like the rest of my body".  In case you're wondering what the tattoo is - the inside is a triquatra.  It is a Celtic/ Pagan symbol symbolizing the woman's journey of maiden, mother, and crone - and how the three phases of her life intertwine.  The flowers and vines are just to give it a "girly" touch.

Till next time.  :)