I confessed last August that I really wanted to get a tattoo to celebrate surviving cancer. Well, it took me three years to figure out what I wanted and where I wanted it but I did it!
So here is the beginning of it. It will grow each year. the Chinese symbol means 'to live' or 'to survive' - survivor would have been three symbols - more than I wanted. The butterflies count the years. This May will be three years so I went ahead and did three butterflies.
Damn you say....a mark of triump!
ReplyDeleteBless you Lisa and may you stay cancer free!
What a wonderful affirmation to have...you go girl!
ReplyDeleteMay you be blessed with continued good health, and may that tattoo continue to grow.
ReplyDeleteHere's to many more years of celebrating life! Thanks for giving hope to others. I bet you'll get lots of questions about the meaning of your tattoo from those who see it. Butterflies are my favourite.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful tat with wonderful meaning. If you are going to mark each year with a butterfly, have you decided which route they are going to take ... up your arm or down your hand?
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I love the chinese symbol and the butterflies. Before you know it, your arm will be covered in butterflies.
ReplyDeleteDid it hurt?
Good for you. Congratulations. Now, did you manage to take that first photo, or did you have help?
ReplyDeleteI love it and what it stands for! Congrats Lisa :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so brave! Surviving Cancer and a Tattoo too! I love your design, I think the butterflys are a great idea! I was so glad to read that you are Ok and you don't have to go back for six months..you rock! :) Did the tattoo hurt?
ReplyDeleteYou are brave (in many ways), and ouch, and great selection.
ReplyDeleteI had a dream about how great it would look if I had a tattoo last night. One of the times I was actually going to do it, we were too drunk and they had just passed some law about turning away drunks from tattoo parlours.
Wow! I love it! It looks beautiful and I love the meaning behind it. Excellent choice -- all your thought was totally worth it. It looks amazing and appropriate and is so meaningful. I hope your whole arm gets filled up with years and years of health!
ReplyDeleteThis is beyond cool! May you continue to add butterflies for many, many beautiful years!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI debated getting a tatt off and on for a long time, then found out that it would put me on the deferral list at the blood bank for a year. That pretty well decided it for me. And saved me from having to decide what to have done.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of... don't I have a blood bank appointment tomorrow? They usually call on the Friday or Saturday before, but I haven't heard from them. And it's not on my calendar... Maybe I'm wrong, but I could hav esworn...
Thanks for reminding me! I need to check that out!
oooh Lisa! I just love it. Besides being esthetically beautiful, the symbolism is just perfect! Maybe you be covered in butterflies year after year...
ReplyDeleteNancy
I love this Lisa!! Completely awesome - and what a great way for you to celebrate and be reminded of life!
ReplyDeleteAnd...I like this also because I've been thinking about getting a tattoo. And I keep putting it off....you're reminding me that the time is now.
I love it but what happens when you run out of room for butterflies? I mean you're going to be around until you're 80, just like me, you'll have them running up one side of your arm and down the other.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy hearing stories of why people get tattoos'. May your tattoo grow up your arm. :)
ReplyDeleteEverybody's already told you what I would have said about it, so I'll just say... Awesome! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tattoo and everything that it symbolizes... may you stay cancer-free, my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a great idea to add to it each year - may you have a full sleeve of butterflies in years to come. :)
ReplyDeletemazel tov. you should be that woman that we stare and point at, marvelling at the crazy number of butterflies she has all over her body. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI think that's the prettiest tattoo I've ever seen. Except for the needle part, I like the idea of it growing yearly to mark your survivorship (or whatever that would be called).
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Lisa! I love the tat! Of course, I have a special affinity for butterflies (and have a butterfly tat myself), so I REALLY love the significance of them in your tat. LOVE IT! Looking forward to seeing butterflies all over your arm in the coming years!!!
ReplyDeletei love your tattoo, i am coming up on my 2nd year in remission from ovarian cancer and i've been looking for a clever tattoo like yours but of course your is ONE OF A KIND!!!! congrats and stay cancer free
ReplyDeleteI am a breast cancer survivor celebrating my 14th year cancer free this year. I already have a breast cancer ribbon tatt on my ankle. I love this idea and already have an appointment to have it done tomorrow evening. Thanks so much for sharing, and may you continue to have a healthy and happy life.
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