For the love of INK.

So my hubby got a new tattoo a few weeks back, before we moved and I just haven't had the time to share it yet. I had all bets that he would never get another one, but much to my surprise and months and month of him thinking about what he wanted to get- he got it. I personally think that it is awesome, as did the artist who tattooed it- Marcus of Ink Link (he took a picture of it before he let B leave- which we thought was awesome, lol). So before you see it let me explain to you what exactly it is. It's a tattoo of paper cranes- first I will tell you the meaning of them throughout history and then the meaning that B derived from the historical meaning.

Throughout history, birds have been viewed as animals of special value and have been endowed with meanings often drawn from legends and stories that have endured over many generations. For the Japanese, the crane—or tsuru—is considered a national treasure, appearing in art, literature, and folklore. The Japanese regard the crane as a symbol of good fortune and longevity because of its fabled life span of a thousand years. It also represents fidelity, as Japanese cranes are known to mate for life. Over time, the crane has also evolved as a favorite subject of the Japanese tradition of paper folding—origami—as children and adults attempt to master this art. Shortly after the end of World War II, the folded origami cranes came to symbolize a hope for peace through Sadako Sasaki and her unforgettable story of perseverance. Diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to radiation after the bombing of Hiroshima, Sadako became determined to reach a goal of folding 1,000 cranes in hopes of being rewarded with health, happiness, and a world of eternal peace. Although she died before reaching her goal, the tradition of sending origami cranes to the Hiroshima memorial has endured as a symbol of the Japan’s ongoing wish for nuclear disarmament and world peace.

Each bird, for Bruce, means something different- the first for the day we got married, the second for the day Logan was born and the third for the day that we made a change and moved to TN. For hope, prosperity, happiness, joy, longevity and fullness of life. It looks awesome- has great meaning. I LOVE tattoos that have meaning and thought behind them. Now, not everyone likes tattoos and unfortunately people will stereotype and judge because of them, which I think is a shame on their part. We are good people who love some good ink. A permanent note of something that we want to forever remember.

So with that being said- I have posted a pic of it, well, because I think its pretty dang awesome.