Prompt: Markings*
*for ideas on how to use this theme, go here.
Note:
I will randomly post these articles whenever the muse strikes. If you do use a prompt as inspiration for something you create, please share a link to the blog, gallery, album or family friendly site where you have posted it. Thanks for playing along!
Something I never imagined I’d do: Permanently marking myself.
Me, a tattoo? You have to be kidding! For years I’d claimed there was nothing I’d want to be stuck with for the next eighty years—no image that I wanted to stretch and sag along with my body. And where on earth would I put the thing? Again, I shuddered at the mere thought.
Enter the summer of my fortieth year: We were home in Oklahoma on vacation and the four of us—Michael, our two daughters, and I—had an appointment for piercings and tattoos at the local parlor. You know: The traditional family outing. :D
Michael and our oldest were getting ink; the youngest and I were acquiring cartilage rings. To make sure we felt comfortable with the artists and the environment, the day before our scheduled torture body alterations (ha!) we visited the facility and were pleased with the friendliness of the staff and cleanliness of the stations. During the next few hours, the girls kept teasing with “you should get a tattoo too”, “it would be fun”, “why don’t you”, yadda, yadda, yadda. After thinking about it overnight, I decided, why not?
I’m not really sure who was more surprised when I ended up with a moon and stars on my ankle, but I must say seeing the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces was a hoot. Some gave me the dropped jaw; I received a couple of double-takes; and I was even asked if it was real. Yes, my friends, that bad boy is on there for good.
The funny thing is, after a while, my accidental-unplanned-permanent-declaration embedded in my epidermis ended up being something I like quite a bit. Now I proudly sport two more with plans for a smattering of others. My skin is my ultimate canvas; my tattoos are as much me as my curly hair, crooked smile, and my off-beat sense of humor. Who knew it would take me four decades to figure that out?
Creatively, it sometimes takes us a while to find our place as well. Grandma Moses began painting only after arthritis made embroidery too difficult, and Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t write her Little House books until she was in her sixties. It is a mystery what choices, decisions, or marks we will make in life until we are placed in certain situations or spurred by the inspiration of the moment. And that is just fine.
Remember, on occasion, the ride is more exciting when the final destination is unknown.
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Ideas for this theme, Markings:
- Markings on yourself (tattoos, birthmarks, medic alert bracelet, scars)
- Markings on an object (heart carved in a tree, graffiti)
- “Writing on the wall”
- Markings made by others (animal marking territory, signs to a party or event)
- Markings on a route (trail markers, bread crumbs, ribbon on stake)
- Markings of ownership (initials on suitcase, SSN on packing crate, monograms)
- Postmark
- Markings made by the maker (jewelry or china hallmarks)
- Marks for identification (jersey number, dog tags, garden markers, museum listing)
- Marking for purchase (sold tag, price tag, designer logo)
- Marking a field (lines on softball field, lines on soccer field)
- Marking time (watching the clock, crossing days of the calendar)
- Marking on a drug
- Markings from a trip (luggage tags, ski lift tickets, labels on trunk, stamps in passport)
- Markings on an animal
- Markings by hand (signature on a contract, autograph, doodle)
- Markings for information (street signs, international symbols)
- ©, ®, ™
- Marking off a list
- Marking you present (or in attendance)
- Markings on the ground (footprint, paw print, tire print)
- Forensic markings (fingerprint, DNA, body fluids)
- “Making your mark”
Happy crafting!
Your pal,
marnie
