Friday, September 14, 2007

Miami Inked


I just spent 3 days in Miami and I had such a great time. Although I was anxious about going by myself, I ended up making some great friends while there. I had people to hang out with every night and I never had that lonely loner feeling.
Let me rewind about why I went. I was chosen to get a tattoo and to be featured on the TLC show Miami Ink. If you’ve never seen it, the show features people who want to get tattoos from the show’s resident artists including Ami James, Chris Nunez, Chris Garver and Darren Brass. The show is internationally broadcast and they wanted to feature me and my story and to help increase the awareness of pancreatic cancer. So this is a really big deal and something that I had hoped would happen but couldn’t really imagine that it would. It was such a crazy experience, but I had an incredible time and met some wonderful people. Once I have my unveiling at my birthday party, I’ll post some pictures of the artwork. Ami James was my artist and he free-hand drew the tattoo on my arm – no stencil or pattern. It turned out amazing and I can’t wait to have the color put in. It is perfect. I can’t wait for everyone to see. I have to keep clothes (like sleeves) off of it for as long as possible so everyone can see it right now and I’ve had a lot of compliments from strangers already. And it was cool to see that the other tattoo artists on the show kept watching Ami draw it then outline and shade it. They were all making great comments about it. I was having this feeling of “my arm will never look the same again, I hope I’m not making the wrong decision,” but every time I look in the mirror, I am blown away and super happy that it’s mine. I feel like it should be on a wall in a museum. And I think it is done in such a beautiful way that whether you like tattoos or not, you’ll appreciate it. I won’t be finished with the color until the end of October. I am told that I will get a call a couple of weeks before it airs and when I get the word, plans are in motion for a big viewing party and everyone will be welcome. I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch it. I don’t like seeing myself on tv especially as a blubbering, crying fool, but hopefully, it will turn out great and even more importantly, maybe it will make someone aware enough about pancreatic cancer to save themselves or someone they love.

Ami working on the shading and my friend, Meaghan, a cervical cancer surviver, getting inked by Nunez.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm reading your blog in tears. My husband recently lost his mother to cancer. I'm struck daily by the lonliness of his father, the morality of me as my children's mother and especially the morality of my husband who seems so genetically close to cancer (I know that sounds weird, but I hope you can understand) I fear for us. I fear the lonliness I see on your pages. BUT....I pray for you that you may see hope in your life, that despair fades and peace remains. I don't know how you do this because I struggle with it myself, but you must cling to the joy of eternal life that Christ provides. Let the eternal life He offers be your hope--- in seeing your beloved wife again. I know my husband longs for the day he can feel his mother's arms again. Praise be to Jesus for giving us that opportunity....sometimes its all that remains

Anonymous said...

my brother....I can't believe you actually made it happen!! Not to say you're not the kide of man who knows how to make things happen...but Miami Inc?? You told us on the porch after Katie's butter fly reliece that you were planning this, but making it actually happen is too much! You are the man, brother. Do NOT let the air date slip by without sending me a reminder...this is way too cool. I'm as speechless as I've ever been in my life! Ami?! I don't know what to say. What a great picture. I'm coming to Jersey just to hear the complete story. I need to hear every last detail. Too bad you got the tat after Kat left. Honestly, I have to hear it from you personally how unbelievably cool it had to be. I'll see you soon. All my love, brother. Tell Fran I said hello.

Welcome

Through the worst tragedy I could never imagine, my life has become what it has become. Through this blog, I will continue to tell my story. Some days are good and many are not, but those are the cards I've been delt and I will continue to play my hand until the Lord makes me fold. Also, I hope that you will learn more about Pancreatic cancer and help bring light to this horrible disease so that other victims will be given more time to enjoy life than my precious wife had. Happy reading.