get a memorial tattoo

I’ve always spelled Pupa wrong ever since I was little, and he used to tell me it was “Papa” but I wouldn’t believe him. Now that I’m older I just think the misspelling is part of our history that I’d never want to change. On to the tattoo.

I really love Kurt Halsey’s work, especially his doves. However, everyone seems to be getting them and I wanted my tattoo to have severe significance, so I changed it up slightly. My grandfather is being represented by the dove who is flying away, and I being the small one left behind. A broken heart is fitting because his passing nearly killed me. He was and still remains my favorite person in the entire world. And this tattoo, everytime I look at it, will remind me of how hard it was to lose him. It’s located on my left forearm.

I still miss her, but I love being reminded of her and thinking about how she would want me to live.

This would be my 9th tattoo but my first memorial one. I want a design to honor my great-aunt. Aunt Myrt was the matriarch of our family and played a huge role in my life. She joined the ancestors this past August at age 92. I was close to her my whole life but was blessed to be especially close as I helped care for her in the final months as she prepared to make her transition from the material world. I recently received a “message” from her that confirms my belief that our loved ones are still a part of our lives after they have passed on.
I want a design that incorporates a myrtle branch and memorial dates, beyond that I’m not sure what it will be. I would like to incorporate images that symbolize our African heritage, our family roots in South Carolina, and her career as an educator.

This is another thing I need to meditate on… an example of how accomplishing one of my goals will help toward accomplishing another.