Ok very long winded. I have tats and each one is symbolic of my life event's and struggles. I have a spiral hand band that that starts on the top of my right wrist of flowers and vines curling up my arm. This was two separate ones finally combined together to become one whole. Inside of that is a castle with two stars for the two babies I lost and my Son's name and birthday just under it. I have large cats eyes on my lower back aka "tramp stamp" lol. On the top of my right shoulder I have a cat with a halo and a devil spiked tail that is symbolic to me of the dual nature of Gemini's. I have a Celtic cross with my Fathers initials in it. My Son has the exact Celtic cross and he has the initials of his three grandparents who have passed. From just below my hair line down my back down I have a floral design. About nine inches long it is a large back piece of flowers and vines with a monarch buttery fly coloring/shape but it is a cat's face and eyes. This tat was done in honer of my surviving my first heart attack the three large flowers also represent my past, present and future. The inclusion of the monarch butterfly/cat is for new life and protection, the cat being considered my "Familiar". On my left should there are Ocean waves with tear drops coming off it with the Chinese symbols for strong soul, a reminder of me and my Son's para-sailing accident that tore me up badly for months after wards. I am trying to find some one to do cat's paws up over my left shoulder down to my left breast with a sleeping cat encircling my breast. I have a big scar there from surgery a few years about from a large mass they removed. I also have above my right breast, a circle of life that is a reminder that life is ever ending and always changing. The main thing I really try to express to people is "Think before you ink" it's yours for life unless you want to spend many hours. time and money having them removed. My 15 year old step daughter is hell bent on getting an anchor on her chest this coming February when she turns 16, I keep telling her not to. Contrary to many peoples beliefs, that I know personally, tattoos are not always addicting. When I signed for my Son's when he was 15 my ex flipped out screaming at me and telling me how he would have them all over. Umm nope aside from the Celtic cross with his grandparents initial, he has "One day at a time" tatted on his inner right arm. For him this is a daily reminder that he can and will overcome his struggles in life,he is 25. While doing a wedding set up at the Catholic church I was told by Father X that my tats were an offense to the church and to him. I hadn't thought that the shirt I wore that day had a criss-cross cutout on the back showing my tats. However, a week later while being a guest at an event hosted by the bride and groom I was again face to face to Father X. First he complimented my artistic designs and creative work saying that he had never seen a more beautiful display at his church and at the wedding. He then apologized for his remarks about my tats, saying that he understood they were mearly an extension of my creative side and of who I was. I went on doing six more weddings at that church. Not everyone with tats is a bad person.
