Tattoos

For a while now, I've been wanting another tattoo. Most people don't even know that I have any, cause you can't really see them. For me, they aren't for "showing off". They should have some sort of meaning in your life. Each of mine did. Some were super significant, others just had timely importance... I've seen way too many "tattoo mistakes" made, from ridiculous pictures that had no meaning to my ex having my initials tattood on his shoulder (ok, let's chalk that one under "timely importance").

1) My first tattoo was that ONE mistake that everyone is allowed when it comes to tattoos. It's actually pretty funny how this one came full circle though. It's a home-made tattoo with the name "Charles". I was 16. Let's just leave it at that. It is ironic how the person that I ended up with has the same name. Anyhow, that one's been almost completely lasered off. And yes, getting it removed hurt more than the actual tattoo...

2) Freshman year in college. My bested college girl, Jolene, and I decide to go get tattoos. It actually started out that we were going to pierce our noses. Kinda glad that I went this way. It's a simple, small one on the outside of my left leg with some leaves and my nickname "Ona".

3) Sophmore year in college. Me and Jo, back at the tattoo parlor. I was getting ready to move to Tacoma after that year and she was headed back to Maupin, Oregon. We both got the Infinity symbol on our right chest with a diamond around it. Kinda just saying that we'd always be "sisters". Needless to say, we still are...

4) About 3 years after my daughter was born, I wanted a big one one my lower back. Not a "tramp stamp", but something with meaning. So there it went, my biggest tattoo. Across my entire lower back, Maia's middle name "Mahealani" with clouds and a moon. 3 hours of pain, but all worth it.

5) My last one was actually the most significant. I got it right before I got pregnant for the second time. Charlie and I had always said that when I get pregnant and it IS a boy (no, if's there), his name would be Kiale. So there it went, on the back of my neck. In script and simple. The next year, my baby was born!!!

There aren't many unvisible parts of my body left, so now what. This time, I'm thinking of going bold. I've had a few thougths... First being a Haku Lei wrapping 3 times around my lower leg going from my ankle till right below the knee. This one is a huge committment and I'm not sure if I'm ready for it, but I've been thinking about this for a few years now... The other idea is to get the chinese symbols for love and family on the insides of my wrists. For me, it's kinda like everything that I do (since most things are done with our hands) would be done with the love of my family in mind. Kinda corny, but it makes sense to me....

I really want to get it done in Hawai'i so I've got to decide by SEPTEMBER!!! Wish me luck!!!