Got Ink?

In 1993 I was at an art museum showing of Warner Brothers Cartoons. I am a big cartoon fan. Long story short, while looking at the original cells, I decided that Marvin the Martian would be a great tattoo. After looking at several artists and studios, I got Marvin inked into my left ankle.

A few years go by and I got a band around my right ankle. A few more years, and I decided that Marvin was lonely so I got his dog K-9 tattooed bedside him, with plans of getting more cartoon charcters on me left ankle, basically making a cartoon band. If you were to see me in a suit and tie, you would never guess that I had any tattoos. None at all.

After all of the healthcare drama I had last year, I started thinking I needed another tat. What should I get and where should I get it? And could I even get another because of my health situation?

I started purusing the net looking for suggestions. I thought of a butterfly because of the rebirth symbolism which would go along with me almost dying last year and with the thanks of a new kidney being given a new chance on life. I couldnt find any "masculine" butterflies that I would want for the rest of my life. I even thought of having "John Doe was here" with an arrow pointing to my kidney and using the name of whomever gave me a kidney instead of John Doe but then I thought that was cheesy (original but cheesy).

Finally I called my transplant coordinator. Transplant coordinators are like a second mother. They work out the details for the testing and the surgery. They have to know where you are and how to reach you at any given time. They help answer questions, offer advice, and give you a shoulder to cry on. I told her what I wanted to do and asked if it would impact negatively getting a transplant. She admitted this was the first time she had been asked that but we worked out the pros and cons and a cut-off date of when I had to have it by.

I kept looking at designs, and finally came across the idea of a phoenix. It holds the same symbolism as the butterfly but a lot more manly. I decided to do it as a cover up on the band on my right ankle (which has lost its meaning to me over time).

Last Thursday, after we got back from Vegas, I did a manual dialysis exchange (obviously couldnt do it on the plane at night when I sleep like I do now) and took a 4 hour nap. I awoke, showered and headed to the tattoo studio. I had already went and met with the artist and he worked on the drawing. A couple of hours later, I emerged more colorful (and a little sorer) with a Phoenix coming out of some flames that go all the way around my ankle. The last tattoo, I can ever get.