A Tat for Hayden

I've got three tattoos now. They're all memorial tats for loved ones who have died... First, on my left ankle, I got a Moon for my 25th birthday. The moon is obviously for me, Goddess of the Moon, I added the initials of a good friend, Randy Riddle, who died when we were 19. Next, with my "in lieu of flowers" money from Mitch's 2nd funeral, I got his memorial tattoo as the Monkey on my back.
The original idea was for Mitch and I to each have a monkey (this one's named Jojo, by Mary Engelbreit) with a gemini symbol tattooed on our shoulders. When he got sick, he refused to spend any money on the dead guy, so instead it became his memorial tat. It was mere days after Hannah's death that I decided I wanted to get a special tattoo just for her, a reminder of the gift of her death: Bodhicitta. I've been pondering a 4th tat for a long time... really focusing on an graffiti styled armband with little paper dolls and cool lettered words like Love and Joy and Choice. I knew I had to get a Hayden tattoo, before he dies, so he doesn't think he has to die to be immortalized on his mama's body. I love a particular red monster drawing he did regularly as a little guy (this was his second most frequently appearing art, the first was earth with a loooooong staircase to the sky, so he could visit daddy). Now that the third Live and Learn tattoo funshop is scheduled for September 10, the serious talk has begun. Hayden has chosen the back of my right calf for his piece. While looking through the works of the local tat artists in Asheville, NC, I came upon Jay Chastain's work at Empire Tattoo. His japanese style work has given us a whole new plethora of ideas! We've now decided on a tiger. Not too cartoon-ey, not realistic, not fierce... beautiful is our request. And I'd like a lotus flower in there somewhere, maybe his nest?

Hayden really likes this one. I think it would be cool if he was looking at a dragonfly instead of a butterfly. The faces in this one are weird, I do like the playfulness the picture brings to mind. Maybe it could be a monkey playing with his (tiger!) tail instead.
This guy's a bit fierce for our taste, his positioning is beautiful, though, and ripe for a lotus instead of a rock! I'm sure he can be softened :)

I do have absolute faith we'll get get a great tat and a fun, wild experience as we take over a tat shop in Asheville next month!! Now to sell that washer and dryer...