The murder has landed...

It's done.

DONE.

I am thrilled, and relieved.  I was wound up like a spring yesterday morning, waiting for my noon tattoo with Eric.  I was wound up as I had only seen preliminary artwork (which I liked, but did request changes to), I had no idea if I would be able to deal with the pain, and the biggest fear - regret.  Regret because the piece had turned out terribly, regret because I might change my mind...you know.  Regret.

I parked a bit early, wandered down to the restaurant Tui works in for a good luck hug (and a very very tasty almond milk chai) - a nice coincidence that she was only half a block away from the shop.  Eric was having a smoke outside the shop when I arrived.  He reassured me I'd be fine (what else is he going to say?).  I walked in and one of the girls working in the shop said OH you're here for the crows! They're AWESOME!

That helped.  Hearing that, helped.  And the energy in the shop helped.  They were young, and enthusiastic.  When a new client got booked by one of the women, she wandered back and excitedly told Eric what she was getting to do.  There was no attitude.  No jaded coolness.  Just fun and passion for what they do.

And she was right - the crows were awesome.

Eric is lovely - a kind, unpretentious young guy.  We chatted about music, and school, and family.  About the things he had to do when he was an apprentice tattooer (including repeatedly stencilling the word "woof" on an academic professional's 'taint'...something that obviously haunts him a little).  About what parts of the body hurt most under the needle (apparently bums smart something fierce - who knew?).  About how he wants to get tattooed (pretty much) everywhere, in part so he has a good sense of what each area feels like for his clients.  And all that chat kept my mind off the discomfort going on - and I will call it discomfort for 90% of the process, pain for 10% (those big solid black areas do begin to smart something fierce).  I focused on the weight of his arms on my leg, and that somehow reassured me and made it easier.  Also making it easier?  A quick visit from Tui who took the photos above.  She was slightly disappointed that it was seeming so easy for me, kind hearted soul that she is.  It was four hours of fun, but it didn't feel nearly that long.

One thing that came out talking to Eric is how differently he (and the girls in the shop, and probably most young tattooers) view tattoos.  Me, I ruminated on this for years.  Where, what, would I get tired of it, who would do it...so many decisions.  Them? They have some downtime and will tattoo each other on the spur of the moment.  He laughed and told me that when he started, he used to practice on himself, so his thighs are covered with random, slightly ridiculous tattoos.  There was a bit of regret - only in that he has lost some space that could be used for bigger pieces.  But there is still plenty of skin to play with, I gather.  An attitude reflecting a generational difference? Maybe.  Or maybe once you're into body modification in a big way, you are liberated from the kinds of worries I had.

The end result?  I'm very happy.  He hit the level of detail I wanted perfectly.

At one point during the process, I made the comment that "this is a one time thing" - he looked up and smiled, and said "that's what you think..."  He may be right.