Translating a Memory into Art - Part 2 - Memorial Tattoo for Mama

Both of my parents passed away in 2020. Nothing makes you realize how very few photos you have of your loved ones than when you have to grapple with the thought of never being able to take a new photo or make a new memories. The memories my mind holds are the only memories I will every have of my mother and my father. I will never be able to get another hug or ask for another piece of advice or hear their voices again. 

My parents lost my older siblings at or shortly after birth, so I grew up an only child. With both of my parents gone, there are memories of me and of our family that no one living has memories of and others that only my memories are left. I never realized the burden of being the keeper of memory would be so weighty or that it would come to me so soon.

A few years ago, I got a memorial tattoo of my father. This year, I finally decided on a design for my mother. My mother loved all of the children in her life. Nieces and nephews, neighborhood children, kids that belonged to friends and other family members. There was always room for another plate at our table or a place for someone to sleep in our house if they needed it. If a child needed comfort for anything, she was there.

In many of the pictures I have of her and in so many memories, my mother was rocking a baby or small child to sleep or holding their hand as they learned to walk or helping them put together a new toy to play with. This picture (left) is a perfect example.

So that is what I decided to send to my tattoo artist as inspiration for my new tattoo. I also found a drawing by Soosh of a mother and child in a very similar pose that I sent along as well. I love the line drawing and water color style of it, and it would mesh very well with the memorial tattoo I had of my dad already.

I think it turned our perfectly. The only thing I had my artist update from the drawing she showed me was the color of Mama's hair. She had it more red and less blonde. If you knew my mother, you probably remember that she absolutely did have reddish blonde hair. She, however, would correct anyone in a flat second who tried to say she did. For most of my life she even went regularly to the salon to have blonde and gray "frosting" streaks put in her hair to make it more blonde and less red. I never understood why. I always thought her hair was very pretty all on its own. That said, I laughed and told my artist that Mama would haunt me if I had a tattoo done of her and made her hair its natural color, so we went more blonde.

I love that my artist matched the color of the foot pajamas I am wearing in this tattoo to the color of the shirt I am wearing in the memorial tattoo for my dad. She also matched my pigtail hairstyle too. Both memorial pieces are in the inside of my left arm, one upper and one lower arm. I wanted them both where I could see them anytime, and I wanted them on the side of my body closest to my heart. You can see my dad's memorial tattoo HERE. Hopefully my next tattoo will be one surrounding happier things and not another memorial piece.