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Mercy me! I’m a
grandmother — and here I am standing smack-dab in the middle of a tattoo
parlor! Her restless eyes darted to
and fro taking note of the establishment -- especially whether conditions
were sanitary. She did not approve of tattoos! Her ranting and raving had
been a true showstopper, yet there she stood with her 18-year-old grandson
at her side.
It was high school graduation weekend and the
grandparents had looked forward to celebrating with their only grandson,
Kyle. They are pretty much shockproof when it comes to teenagers, although
the mention of a tattoo had blindsided them both.
“I want you both to know I’ve given serious thought to
this for a long time, and I’ve found a tattoo salon that is safe. They only
use new needles. It’s really important to me,” Kyle pled his
case, hoping for some semblance of understanding. Discussing it with his
father had only brought silence. Thus, he turned to his grandparents as he
had so many times during the past few years.
******
In November of Kyle’s first year of high school, he
suddenly lost his mother. She kissed him goodbye as he left for school one
morning, and upon returning home that afternoon he learned of her unexpected
death just hours before. In the midst of normal teenage angst, the most
grueling challenge of his life was thrown into the mix.
His father began dating rather soon, leaving Kyle to
deal with his grief alone. Things went from bad to worse, as did his
grades, and even the father/son relationship suffered. Anger began to rear
its ugly head as this child struggled with a life that had been turned
topsy-turvy!
Counseling eventually smoothed out some of the creases
in Kyle’s wrinkled mess of a life, but soon he had a stepmother in the
house. Learning to live as a blended family led to even more turmoil! Kyle
was a bit older and began acting out in more serious ways. A few encounters
with alcohol took away his pain temporarily, and he told his grandparents it
was the only time he could “let go” and cry for his mother.
More counseling ensued, some one-on-one, and some as a
family unit. Improvement was made, but Kyle was still yearning for the life
he had known prior to his mother’s death. Acceptance did not come easily,
and possibly will never come completely.
******
“Grandma, this is the tattoo I want. What do you
think?”
The grandmother had envisioned everything imaginable,
and none of it was good. Wringing her hands, she approached Kyle, all the
while knowing it would take a miracle to change his mind. She’d been
yammering at him all day to no avail. What magical words could sway
him? Why won’t they come to me! “Why is he so darned tenacious about
this?” she whispered to herself.
Kyle pointed, she looked down at the illustration, and
her heart stopped. With unbelieving eyes she viewed a beautiful cross that
was adorned with one red rose, and entwined with ribbon. The inscription
read: In Memory of Mom
Kyle spoke, “I want it on my shoulder blade. It will
never show unless I’m swimming with friends or something. Besides, it’s not
something I want to show the whole world – it’s kind of private to me.”
Tears stung his Grandmother’s eyes and her resolve
began to soften. How could it not? Kyle’s mother had been her only child
-- she had been through hell too. This young man didn’t want any of the
strange images she had conjured up in her mind. He was
honoring his mother by making a permanent
statement about her importance in his life.
In due time the procedure was completed, but not
without Grandma and the tatoo artist reiterating how to take care of the
wounded area until it completely healed.
“Well, kid! We’ll soon know if your mother approves of
what just took place.” Grandma was trying to lighten the mood with a little
humor now that there was no turning back.
Kyle looked confused. “Whatcha mean?”
“When we stick our heads out the door we may be struck
by lightening!”
Looking mischievously at one another, they gently
pushed open the salon door, and slowly stepped outside to be greeted with
sunshine, blue skies, and drifting white clouds.
“Whew! I guess Mom isn’t as mad as you are Grandma….”
“Well, young man, I still don’t approve of tattoos, and
I’m going to keep nagging about caring for it until it’s healed. You don’t
want any complications!” Grandma’s brow was furrowed.
“I know, I know. But, Grandma – even though everyone
thinks it’s wrong – it feels right to me. I loved my mom so much…”
©2006 Kathleene S. Baker
Lnstrlady@aol.com
www.txyellowrose.com |
