I've always wanted a tattoo, but I had never been able to decide what I would really, really, really want permanently inked on my body. But by the time I was finally legally allowed to get one, I knew exactly what I was getting.
At A Glance Author little lea Contact barethebandage@gmail.com When It just happened Artist Rue Studio Bruce Bart Location Pompano Beach, Florida
My father has always been the greatest influence in my life, because he was a single father who raised my older brother and I. He was a brilliant man, who stressed the importance of education to my brother and I. He always read to me and introduced me to great authors and influenced me to fall in love with writing. He was an avid guitar player and music lover, as well as music producer. I learned so much about both music and the music business from him, and he was part of my inspiration for wanting to become a music journalist. He was always the person who supported me 100%, no matter what. He was always proud of me and was basically my biggest fan. I guess someone could say that I was a daddy's girl, but he would never say that. All he would say is that I was his "honeybear". This nickname came from the fact that I would constantly eat honey, but only out of the plastic honey containers, shaped like a bear. I could almost always be found holding the bears, as if it was my baby bottle. Somehow, the name stuck.
In February 2007, my father was hospitalized due to complications of diabetes, a disease that he never even knew he had. Within three weeks, he had endured two surgeries which had removed his right foot and part of the lower leg. My father had never been a fan of doctors, but he was very positive and supportive of everything the doctors needed to do at this time. I was very proud of my father and I let him know that. He was quickly making progress and beginning physical therapy. Soon enough, though, there were a series of very serious complications and he was suddenly rushed back in the ICU. Within a week, my father had passed away. To say the least, I was absolutely devastated. It was just about a month before my eighteenth birthday and I was suddenly without my father.
I always knew I wanted a tattoo for my eighteenth birthday, but I had never been able to decide what I wanted. But when my father died, I automatically knew that I wanted something related to him in some way. Thursday was his favorite band, so I was considering Thursday lyrics on my feet. After considering healing time, visibility, and pain, I decided that I wanted something on a better area. I finally decided that I wanted a piece that was more traditional. I finally decided on a sailor jerry-style swallow with a banner. I found an image I liked, and made an appointment with the general manager at Bruce Bart, Rue. I had seen him tattooing (he did my best friend's tattoo of a natalie dee pickle on her hip) and I was very happy with both the process and the final product. The final image that I had decided on was a sailor jerry swallow, with a banner and roses. The swallow served as a representation of my father, as swallows always return home and my father always put me and my brother first. The roses fit in with the traditional style, and also that my father always gave me roses on my birthday (i felt it was fitting, as the tattoo would be a birthday present). I couldn't decide what the banner would say, but I finally decided on "honeybear".
I got the tattoo done two days after my birthday, and I was a complete bundle of nerves. I had four of my best friends to watch and cheer me on, so I was calmed by that. I decided to have it placed on the side of my upper right thigh. I was beyond thrilled with rue's drawing of the tattoo (he decided to take some liberties with it) and I was completely ready for it. I was absolutely terrified, but I was ready. The pain wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but it was still painful! The outlining and the shading were probably the worst. I guess my skin had gotten used to it by the time the coloring was being done. Rue allowed me to take breaks between the outline and shading and the shading and coloring, calming my nerves with a cigarette and talking to my friends. Two and a half hours later, the piece was done and it was honestly more gorgeous than I could have ever imagined. Three days afterward, it is peeling and healing nicely. I'm in love with the piece and so proud to be "honeybear" permanently.