Since I was a teenager, I’ve wanted a tattoo. I figured my first tattoo would be something cheesy like a band’s logo, or a hard-hitting line from a favourite song or movie. Not once did I think my first tattoo would be in commemoration.
To start at the beginning, we have to go back to earlier this year when my grandma passed. It was later that same day I decided to head out on my own to my grandpa’s place two and half hours away. Getting there takes two different 400 series highways, so in my mind, I’ve split the two into ‘mine’ and ‘my grandparents’.’ It was just as I was merging onto ‘their’ highway, that I saw a license plate which read: ITSALLOK. It felt like a sign from my grandma to me, silly as it may seem. It’s stuck with me since.
I told a friend this story after conversing about tattoos we wanted. She found out it was my birthday coming up, and had decided she’d pay for me to get one as a gift. I was floored. And of course, extremely happy and thankful. The days leading up were a little nerve-wrecking for me. I had to let my mom down gently, and mentally prepare myself for it. It was my first tattoo! Something I’d been dreaming about for the better part of a decade.
The day finally came, and I met up with my friend. We travelled to an amazing little store by Dundas and Dufferin called TKVO, where the tattoo artist @rat666tat works out of. The appointment started with getting the size of the tattoo right, the artist letting me know what would give me the best result, especially with the font I picked. After this, we worked on placement, deciding on the perfect spot on my inner forearm. Then it was time to get down to business. I was really getting ITSALLOK permanently inked on my skin.
I’d read up beforehand how getting a tattoo felt, even asking people I knew. Thankfully, how most people described it seemed to be what my own experience was like. Overall, I’d liken it to being scratched by a cat. The type of scratch that leaves a mark and a little blood. Nothing serious, but it still stings. Not that it really mattered, cause holy crap I was actually getting my first tattoo!
It really was the perfect first-time tattoo experience: a great artist, a friend for support, no real hiccups in the process, and I didn’t even have to pay! It was a long road to get here, but damn am I happy I made it. Committing to something for life is scary, but this is one commitment I’m ready for.