So the story goes, I have been wanting a tattoo for quite a while. I was never sure about what I wanted. Unfortunately 3 years ago, my brother passed away due to leukemia, and so I knew I would want some kind of memorial tattoo. Again, what?
I had been planning a trip home(Ontario) for a wedding and to visit with my family, including my niece and nephew, who have grown into a couple fine young adults.
In talking to them, they mentioned something about getting tattoos, and that their Dad, my brother had told them a while back that he wanted them to get nuatical stars, like he had. Kind of a family thing.
I seized on that, and told them I was game.
We went down to the local tattoo shop,
Sugar Shack Tattoo in Kincardine ON.
They told us they had walk in days on Friday, but we would need to be there by 4am to sign up. We went. There were 5 other people there before us. We though we would be hosed.
The artist that was doing the walk in's was leaving for New York at 4, and he would not likely be able to get us in, but they would try.
There was, however, another possibility. There was another artist, Jarrko, who had an 11am appointment, but they couldn't get hold of that person, and if that person didn't show up, there was a good chance, he could get all 3 of us in.
As it turns out, that artist, knew my brother, he went to elementary school with him, and had done a couple of his tattoos. Sadly, he didn't know that he had passed away.
Jarrko became very determined to help us make this happen. The guys at Sugar Shcak were awesome, always communicating with us, encouraging us to be patient, that they wanted this to happen.
Finally about 11:30am, Jarrko came out and we were on.
We told him what we were looking to do, and he drew up the designs, and we loved them.
Away he went.....
The start of mine...
Mid stream...
The final tattoo, a nautical star with a banner with my brothers dates, and his name....I love it!!!
My nephew is next....
Done....
My niece....
Tattoo complete, a little more elegant...
The gang of 4!
I was so happy to spend a ton of time with these kids. They are great kids, and despite losing their Dad, have become fine young adults with very bright futures ahead of them
It was a very good healing and bonding thing to do.
Their Dad, my brother, would be proud.