ETA: All the wonderfully kind and generous comments ya’ll left when this was originally posted (on Blogger) got lost in the move to the new address. But they’re still in my heart. xoxo
Motivated by Scout’s tattoo meme (she always writes about her relationship with her late mom in such smart and touching ways), and Minty’s creative use of the self-timer, I decided to document my favorite tattoo. Easier said than done, since (1) I’d never used my camera’s timer, and (2) the tattoo is on my back.
I also have a tattoo on my chest that I love. It shows two halves of a heart, broken apart and separated by several inches, but connected by a string. Each half covers a large surgical scar left over from one of my two bouts with leukemia. But since I didn’t want to flash my boobs on the internet, you get the back tatt.
Anyhoo, after some serious wrangling (though it can’t have taken that long — you can still see the night’s sheet creases on my back in these photos), I got some good shots of my other large tattoo.
For context, you should know that it’s a long-standing tradition for people from Flint to have Flint-themed tattoos. Some are classic; some are clever; some are weird. Mine is knitting-related:
Yep, the heart is where Flint is on the Michigan Mitten Map. My friend Ryan (a super-skilled tattoo artist) was awfully patient as I tried to explain to him how knitted stitches fit together. I actually hauled knitting books, a mitten, and a sock on the needles to the shop as visual aides. Because of the thick-n-thin stitches and the wonderful washed-out color, I always think this looks like a mitten made of Malabrigo. 
The only thing I don’t like about this tattoo is the big mole above the heart (where is that, Michigan-wise? Midland?) that Ryan had to work around. Otherwise, I just wish I could see it more often. (Thank you, self-timer!)
In knitting news, I finished the first Flicker sock last week, but the rain kept me from taking photos until today. The Age of Green is officially ushered in!
