So yeah, I did a tattoo thing. Let it be known that I was the last of the family to do this. My sister has one, my brother had many and my nieces and nephew are all inked. Now I am too.

I was not opposed to tattoo’s, just never had anything I wanted permanently on my body. One thing I did know is whatever I may have gotten, it had to be in a place where I could see it. For many years I have looked at various nautical things because as we know, sailing is my thing. But I never found anything that I really liked that was unique. Until now.

Earlier this summer, my niece A sent me a beautiful sterling silver cuff bracelet. There was something written on the inside. It says, “Fate whispers to the warrior “you can’t withstand the storm. The warrior whispers back “I AM THE STORM” I loved this…so much.

And in that moment, I knew this was the thing I wanted permanently on me. This year has been trying in so many ways. But the reality is that my life has been trying in many ways as well. I’m no different than most people, just experienced different life drama and trauma. From family stuff, growing up with alcoholic parents, losing our house, being evicted from apartments to living with family friends or be homeless. Spending 38 years in a 911 career where nobody calls you when they are having a good day to the internal drama of managing employees. A previous bout with kidney cancer 13 years ago to where I am today. My ortho surgeon called me a “warrior” for how I have handled two knee replacement surgeries. And then as we know, I got a fun new cancer thing…and I will have to be a warrior to face that journey. My niece A knew a really good tattoo artist on Cape Cod. It seemed fitting to me to go there with her and get this done. So a plan was hatched. The artist does not work on Wednesday’s but she agreed to come in on her day off to do this for me. I can not say enough about how wonderful she was. So very talented. She was very thorough and took her time, making sure everything was perfect. It was a great experience, not at all painful and came out exactly as I had visioned. Thank you Madi Bristol from Great Island Tattoo in Hyannis Ma.

So yeah, I did a thing…and I love it. I AM A WARRIOR.