I hear you, loud and clear!!!

So...In this post, I was debating over whether to go with a cherry blossom tree or a magnolia for the tattoo that I was to get as a memorial for my dear Opa. I've been going back and forth on it since then and because I don't have the extra cash for such a tattoo, I'm just dreaming of it.

And then the answer hit me today like a punch in the gut.

I got a card from Omi in the mail this morning. It's a Happy Easter card; Love, Omi (seeing that signature without '& Opa' is heart wrenching, btw). Included in the card is $10 and a newspaper article. I went down to visit them last weekend after my bookclub meeting, and she asked me if I had intentions of planting any flowers this spring. I told her that I wanted to, but that last summer, I proved to be very bad about remembering to water my flowers. That was pretty much the end of that conversation. So, I open the newspaper article and here's what it was


As soon as I read the title, it was like all of the wind was knocked out of me. I was immediately (and still am) choked up. There was no note from her, as to why she sent me this article. I never mentioned the tattoo or the idea or have ever said anything to her about it. In fact, she'd probably ream me for thinking about getting another tattoo, if I said something ahead of time.

I just know that this is from Opa. I feel like he is telling me through Omi that I should go with the magnolia.

Just yesterday, I was having a bit of a down day. I had a moment of doubt, thinking, what if this life is really ALL there is. What if he's just gone? And then I get this obvious sign that he's still with me. That he's paying attention. Thanks for that, Opa. I really did need it.

His birthday is coming up in a couple weeks. He would have been 88 on April 12th. I really wish that I could do this on/around his birthday. My friend at work and her husband have recently had some tats done and I really think he does good work. I think I might send the guy an email and give him an idea of what I want to do and see if he can give me an idea of what it'll cost. I was going to ask another friend's husband to draw it up, since he's a really good artist, but I have another, smaller piece that I want to do later that I think he'd be good with. I think this one would be better left to a tattoo artist. Maybe this piece could cost less than I'm expecting (wishful thinking, I suppose) and I could get it done for Opa's birthday.

Four Year Itch...

I want to get a tattoo...Badly. I have a couple already, which I'd say are relatively small in comparison to what I want to do now.

I got my first one a few months before turning 21. The place where I had it done was owned by a friend of Hubby's mom's boyfriend, so I guess they gave me a break, not being "of age" and all. Hubby was getting a new piercing at the time and as I waited, I looked at the pictures on the wall, thinking it would be cool to have a caricature of my black cat Bubba. The tat guy said that he could do it, I should just bring in a picture. Hubby talked me out of bringing in the pic and told me that I should just have them do one of the ones in the book. So that's what I did. I have a grey kitty, batting a ball of yarn on my left shoulder. It is cute. And I was very happy with the work that was done. But now, 8 years later, I wish that I would've had the caricature done afterall. It would've been more meaningful.

The second tat that I had done was almost four years ago and has a lot more significance. I was finished with all of my college classes, and graduation was a week away. I decided that I wanted to do something to remember my good times in the sorority. So, I got CheerBear (the pink carebear with a rainbow on her tummy - CheerBear was the nickname that I was given when I became a sister) and she's painting my sorority letters on my right calf. I came with this idea, rather than just picking something that was up on the wall. It has a lot more meaning to me than the first one.

So, for the new one!!! Shortly after Opa passed away, I thought that I wanted to get a tat in memory of him. At first, I had the idea of having a black & grey portrait of him done. I have an old photo of him as a young man and I thought it might be a nice tribute. So I began looking online for artists in the area that specifically do portraits. For something like that, I think it's incredibly important to find someone that is REALLY good at this. I would hate to have such an important tattoo done poorly. To look at a permanent piece of art that doesn't look exactly like my Opa...That would be horrible. So, I started to let the idea go and knew that I would come up with something sooner or later.

At Christmas, Omi & I had a moment of sadness, remembering Opa's love for cardinals, his friend Jose. One day, it just hit me. I should get a cardinal! But I wasn't sure how I wanted to have it done. Initially, I thought I'd do a cartoon-y version of the red bird. My standard "cute" choice. But as I thought about it more, I decided I wanted it to be more realistic. It's a memorial, not just some cute little birdy. I want beautiful, not cute. So, I began looking for images of cardinals, photos that I could draw some inspiration from. And then I just happened across a photo of a tat on a girl that was a bird in a tree branch. It was just incredible. Sooo...Here's a small compilation of my inspiration...

This is the photo that just completely grabbed me. I don't want it in the same place on my body, but only because my body looks nothing like that. :-) And the bird will be a cardinal. And I haven't yet decided on the type of tree...I'm thinking either a cherry tree or a magnolia.

This is the placement and about the size that I'd like the whole tat. It would be a branch, not the whole tree, so that I could accomodate the placement of the bird.

The rest are various images that I like and could be helpful...I really like this specific cardinal. Sometimes, they can look mean. But I don't get that from this guy. He just looks like a nice guy trying to stay warm.

A literal photo of what I'd like, complete with cherry blossoms:

Magnolia blossoms:

I'm having a difficult time deciding which type of flower/tree I'd like. I thought maybe if looked up the symbolism associated with each, that might make it easier for me...

Cherry Blossoms: In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize the transience of life because of their short blooming times.

Magnolias: associated with nobility, perseverance and love of nature.

I think both flowers have appropriate sentiments behind them...Thoughts? Any artists out there want to take a stab at drawing this for me? I'd definitely pay for your work.

I Want Wednesday

This week's question:

Your house is going to be on one of those home makeover shows. What room do you want done? What do you want done to it?
I'd actually like to have my backyard done, if that counts. I'd like to have a patio or deck where I could put my grill and a table & chairs. I'd like to have a raised herb & vegetable garden. Oh! And a fire pit! And maybe some of those speakers that look like rocks, so I could play music out there from my computer just inside the kitchen. I'd spend the whole spring/summer/fall outside!

What else do you want this week? Share it all.
Hmmm...What else do I want...?

I want to get my resume completed and sent out to potential employers.
I want to bust out my sewing machine and shorten the straps on my dress and attempt to make a shawl/wrap type thing to wear to my sorority formal next weekend.
I want to make something yummy for dinner in my crockpot this weekend.
I want to take Friday off, but that ain't gonna happen...

I WANT... Wednesday

I LOVE finding ways to waste time...And while doing an impromptu google search for "Blog Memes", I came across a site that lists a BUNCH of blogs that do daily/weekly memes. The one that I picked up for today is....




It's an easy one...Go to the blog to find out the question of the week. You answer that question on your own blog by posting your answer as well as any other wants that you have and then link back.

Essentially, make a list of things you want (I mean, seriously??? What's better than that????)

So, without further ado...

This week's question:

What kind of good news do you want to get today?

I want to hear that we've been approved for our refi and the closing will be next week!

Other things that I want this week:

• I want to go to the library - I have two books that I need to read
• I want to write a letter to Omi - a handwritten, just thinking of you letter
• I want to cook some tasty meals - Edamame Corn Chowder & Beef Stroganoff are what I have planned
• I want to redo the layout of this blog - It's so hard to read!!
• I want to copy all of my music over to my personal computer at home, rather than my work laptop!
• I want to update my photography blog
• I want to go to dinner with a couple girlfriends tomorrow night
• I want you all to have a great day/week!!! :-)