A "Positive Addiction"

His words rang through my ears while I sat in Big Joe's Mt. Vernon waiting room on a cold, wintry Saturday afternoon: "I'm warnin' ya, they're addictive!" I heard him clear as a bell, and I laughed: I know all about addictions because all of my adolescent and adult life I was addicted to drugs...from aspirin to diet pills to heroin...and everything in between.

I had yearned for a tattoo the entire time growing up, but supporting my drug habits prevented me from doing so. Now at the age of 44, I had the cash, the time and the clear state-of-mind to make my dream a reality and I figured, isn't it better being addicted to tattoos rather than being addicted to all the junk I had done in my lifetime? Me with a "positive addiction"? - who would ever guess?

Anyway, I knew what I wanted and where I wanted it - one black rose and one red rose intertwined together on the back of my neck right below the hairline (the red rose symbolizes the same that my late husband, Bill had given me so long ago; the black rose stands for the same that my dear late friend, Tony, gave me on one of our many Sunday rides to "The Dairy" in CT)

Mike, the artist, explained to me that the tat would not heal properly if it was placed directly on the crease of my neck, so we both agreed to go lower down at the base of my neck/back area...and it was done. Here was the beginning of my addictive personality shining through once more!

Three days later, on a very snowy Tuesday, everything in town was closed down on account of the weather - everything except Big Joe's! I braved the elements and walked over. Here I was, back again, with a brainstorm...what if, this time, I picked a tat that could be done ACROSS the back of my neck? (I REALLY wanted this spot tattooed since it is kind of unique and I ALWAYS wear my hair up) Mike agreed, and this time I chose some scrollwork with a red heart in the middle (symbolizing me) and 1 smaller purple heart on each side of the scroll (symbolizing my two kids)..viola! Done deal.

Addictive, he said? Absolutely! Worth the cash and amount of pain, they asked? Positively! Seeing as today is Friday and the weekend is here - watch out Big Joe's! Here I come...again!

-MeanDonnaJean

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