Lust for ink.....
As a teen, I was enamoured with the whole lowrider jeans with visible thong look during the late 90's and early 00's that many women trended back then. But what really caught my eye was how many were sporting a lower back tat, otherwise known as the infamous 'tramp stamp'. By god, if I was old enough to embrace that fashion rage back then, I would have. There was just the issue with my mom...LOL
I had many 'eye openers' when I worked at the club and one of the first things I noticed was how many of the girls had tats including Leena who had two herself. As well, how many had their breasts 'enhanced' as it seemed to be prevalent with quite a few with the attitude of some that 'bigger were better'. Not really, as it looked totally out of proportion with the rest of their body and at the time I wasn't really thinking about having mine done. I was young and they were perky and au naturel and many of the patrons often mentioned how it was refreshing to see a pair that weren't 'fake'.
On a sidenote, when I turned 30 I had mine done, nothing outrageous, just a bit fuller/rounder and proportionate with the rest of my body. Yes, they're not real, but they're also beautiful and those that have seen them would agree. Adrian himself was never a fan of the fake, but upon seeing mine for the first time he changed his mind.
I still remember when I went through my divorce, my ex wanted me to pay him back for my enhancement surgery and I literally had a meltdown cupping my breasts and yelling at him that they were a gift from him for my 30th and you don't ask for a refund whatsoever. Needless to say, my brother who was my lawyer was red faced from embarrassment.....
Crazy how thoughts pop up in my mind and I just go off on a tandem.......LOL
I really wanted to get a tat myself and Leena introduced me to Ben who was her tat artist. An older guy, old enough to be my dad but his work spoke for itself as he just wasn't a hack since he'd been a tat artist for many years. I currently have 12 and he did every single one as he's the only guy I trust to ink my body.
I wanted a lower back tat and I recall his face squinting in disapproval saying that I would 'regret it' as at that point the fashion trend had turned into a joke emphasizing the whole 'tramp stamp' motto. I didn't care, I was young and I wanted it and no one was going to change my mind. Having checked out quite a few images, I settled on a small tribal image and away he went with it being over before I knew it.
Initially, I was scared to get it done as I didn't know what to expect or how much pain I would endure. Leena mentioned to me that it was like an 'exacto knife cutting into you' and somehow I was drawn more to that thought than discouraged. Truth be told when that tat gun hit my lower back, the initial sting jolted me with Ben asking if I was okay, but I got used to it and actually enjoyed it. To the point where I had more inked and while at the club I had received a total of five with my favourite being a butterfly just above my vag. I'll tell you right now, it was hot looking back then and it still is as I had many patrons at the club commenting on it........ and I'll never forget the look on Leena's face when she saw it the first time mentioning that it increased my 'stock value' at the club with that tat as it would be a 'fucking money maker'.
She was absolutely right......
It's not surprising that I had a butterfly tat done as it symbolizes 'transformation and change' and that was exactly what I was going through back then. Not only had I become a different person, but I became myself and who I wanted to be living on my terms and no one else's. Many would disagree with the changes I went through back then and what I did for a living, but at the end of the day it was my life and I decided not to be controlled or dictated by others. Working at the club, I grew up fast and walking in there for the first time at 19 years of age and all doe-eyed, it was a life changing moment as I learned a lot, experienced a lot, and the choices I made with some being not the best and some with no regrets....
Such as my tats....no regrets.
And dancing at the club......no regrets.
After my daughter is born I'll have my 13th done, that being her birthdate in roman numerals on my left arm, just under the inner bicep, and under my marriage date and my son's birthdate. I contemplated having the marriage one removed, but decided not to as it was a part of me and a reminder of something good that came out of it, my amazing son whom I love to death.
Ciao......