"When the designs are chosen with care, tattoos have a power and magic all their own. They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul."
Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration
TIME: 2:25 PM
PLACE: My bathroom
SUBJECT: Bluebird tattoo
In mythology, the bluebird is the universally acknowledged sign of happiness, prosperity, good health, and the arrival of spring. Its blue plumage is associated with the sky and eternal happiness. When Mom was going through her battle with lymphoma, her sister, my Aunt Alice, purchased bluebird pins for us to wear as a show of support. I wore mine throughout the 3 years she fought for her life. In the end, we buried Mom's pin with her. My pin now sits in my jewelry box, next to the watch she wore at her wedding and her high school class ring. My sister and I had discussed getting a bluebird tattoo in honor of Mom for the past year or so. Today, while the kids were at preschool, we went ahead and had it done. We have it in the same location, behind our left ears. Mine is hidden for the most part by my hair. The bird is facing forward - so I can imagine that it is Mom whispering her wisdom & advice into my ear. Mom was not the biggest fan of tattoos (she just shook her head and sighed when she saw my other one, an Egyptian ankh) but I think she would be honored that we did this in memory of her.
