¡Squirrel Libre!

I spotted Eliza at the Atlantic Avenue subway station several Saturdays ago.<br /><br />She has several tattoos, but this one, on her right arm, seemed the most appropriate to share:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqisqVw0HZy-nMD9ldp_Pm6upFmFa9RzhjrlBEWsTjZvWxTE0jeZzhp3jPvZwmwksH1uVZ-FHGV8IUHKHnUXZdNlo_Sv1cTukPaioAc0aBpcVi9nuF_nmz7B9ttsc6UZKn-oaaR-FZ/s1600-h/squirrel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387939275216337154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqisqVw0HZy-nMD9ldp_Pm6upFmFa9RzhjrlBEWsTjZvWxTE0jeZzhp3jPvZwmwksH1uVZ-FHGV8IUHKHnUXZdNlo_Sv1cTukPaioAc0aBpcVi9nuF_nmz7B9ttsc6UZKn-oaaR-FZ/s400/squirrel.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This is, of course, a squirrel, which was chosen because Eliza has the nickname of Squirrel.<br /><br />Why Squirrel?<br /><br />Eliza grew up in rural Arkansas in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozark_mountains">Ozark Mountains</a>. "When I was younger," she told me, "I hunted and shot squirrel".<br /><br />Of course, I had to ask what squirrel tasted like. "Like chicken," she answered, and then clarified, "the dark meat".<br /><br />As for the head of the squirrel, Eliza confirmed what I thought, the tattoo sports a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luchador" style="font-style: italic;">Lucha Libre</a> Mexican-style wrestling mask.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAdJL4KeinN9RebQFFxNsxWtAhXK8CEJ5NBS8cX0b1An0fQaT0I5Dc_o0nvM1fvx4AMo2WFhYhSNKCk3b_-_pvJS31MzzKWlLJlQ8ueaXsYuOzM4WgxlL3P-LGgYzaBXl1ERGLWyx/s1600-h/squirrel+head.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387939179796700274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAdJL4KeinN9RebQFFxNsxWtAhXK8CEJ5NBS8cX0b1An0fQaT0I5Dc_o0nvM1fvx4AMo2WFhYhSNKCk3b_-_pvJS31MzzKWlLJlQ8ueaXsYuOzM4WgxlL3P-LGgYzaBXl1ERGLWyx/s400/squirrel+head.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Eliza explained that she wanted the squirrel to be like her, kind of "sassafrass". I thought I knew what she meant, but not being familiar with rural American dialect, I asked her to clarify. "Sassafrass," she smiled, "is sorta wild and crazy".<br /><br />The piece was inked at <a href="http://www.southsidetattoos.com/">Southside Tattoo</a> in Austin, Texas, by <a href="http://www.hub-tattoo.com/">Michael Norris</a>.<br /><br />A hearty thanks to Eliza and her cool squirrel tattoo from us here at Tattoosday!

¡Squirrel Libre!

I spotted Eliza at the Atlantic Avenue subway station several Saturdays ago. She has several tattoos, but this one, on her right arm, seeme...

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