<sub>This is my memorial tattoo, in all it's glory.

The piece is a combination of found art and custom work. I had found the etching with the girl and the riverbank and had the critters added by my tattoo artist (Brian @ Capital City Tattoo in Madison, WI) to represent lost family members.

Originally the tattoo was to be for my baby sister Robyn. When I was but two I had a baby sister, and in her brief ten months with us here on earth she and I establish a very strong bond. I still feel her watching over me from time to time. So in the beginning I just had the girl on the riverbank and Robyn represented as a robin in flight. Then while I was making attempts to get the ink committed people started to fall off the mortal coil at an alarming rate and I was continuously pushing back my appointment.

I'm not certain how many of you know this, but earlier this year I lost three family members within three months. It seemed only fitting then that as I was postponed on my tattoo their losses should be marked as well. So with them makes four animal representations total.

In February my uncle James passed. He was my mother's older brother but was only 65, his death was tragic, and arguably too young. He herein is represented by the fish because he loved fly fishing. Two days after James' funeral to which my father was in attendance, my father Steven passed. He was 55, his death was sudden and linked to his heart condition. He is herein represented by the deer. Deer have always been a symbol that surround my father so it seemed only fitting. Third to leave us was my Grandfather Alvin. My mother's father, he was 98 and the sweetest, most selfless good man I have ever as yet to meet and the mark by which I measure every man since. He is the gentle voice in my ear encouraging me to always do the right and noble thing so I had him represented by the gentle butterfly flying up to her ear.

And there you have it. The whole grizzly story. I keep them with me always, right at my side.</sub>