Krystal Shares a Tattoo That Speaks of Life and Death

I met Krystal at the end of June while passing by Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. I spotted a tattoo on her upper left arm and had to stop and ask about it:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLVp80qJKgpBasMgjoVoBEFTIkhDqxRqByUgDAZ98d6M-DrAIG4AZvhEBYQLkk4xmKXc_lbTEvXPhyn3pN7HkEBjIpcgIdD6icOaw3stPiJkK6K70MjkbAEIC7urQ0JQ7rA5QOG21Cuk/w346-h659-no/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLVp80qJKgpBasMgjoVoBEFTIkhDqxRqByUgDAZ98d6M-DrAIG4AZvhEBYQLkk4xmKXc_lbTEvXPhyn3pN7HkEBjIpcgIdD6icOaw3stPiJkK6K70MjkbAEIC7urQ0JQ7rA5QOG21Cuk/w346-h659-no/IMG_1098.JPG" /></a></div><br />Krystal credited this work to a friend of hers that tattoos freelance under the moniker <a href="http://inkaholicshane.tumblr.com/">Shane White Trash</a>.<br /><br />The design on top with the bird, the rose, and the girl crying blood, is based on Shane's artwork, which she really liked. Krystal added the quote, because she felt it went with the design. It reads:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;">life asked death,</div><div style="text-align: center;">"WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE ME,</div><div style="text-align: center;">BUT HATE YOU?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">death responded,</div><div style="text-align: center;">"BECAUSE YOU ARE A</div><div style="text-align: center;">BEAUTIFUL LIE</div><div style="text-align: center;">AND I AM A</div><div style="text-align: center;">PAINFUL TRUTH".</div></blockquote>Krystal found the quote online, and it appears to be unattributed, one of those sayings with an unknown origin that resonates so profoundly with people.<br /><br />Thanks to Krystal for sharing this, one of her eleven tattoos, with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-46881142-4050-ef27-1104-601f3c93f51b"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></span><br />

Krystal Shares a Tattoo That Speaks of Life and Death

I met Krystal at the end of June while passing by Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. I spotted a tattoo on her upper left arm and...

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Memorial Day Post: Brandon's Leg Says It All

I met Brandon briefly while passing through Penn Station one day back in March.<br /><br />I was drawn to the script on his leg and it seemed to be appropriate for this Memorial Day weekend:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISsDF5O-csAW-TJgaPavrH7M98HN8-tMIF-BxuwQUTmgOvHXNujZQMW89vYIsoFc9f5wS-Oj-Fy_hXSH1S8B8WO-jPHzocsRm0EftdMXm-zXSDT8T1ZVjygjX0ejMlKrIV91Nr4GyDFI/s614/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISsDF5O-csAW-TJgaPavrH7M98HN8-tMIF-BxuwQUTmgOvHXNujZQMW89vYIsoFc9f5wS-Oj-Fy_hXSH1S8B8WO-jPHzocsRm0EftdMXm-zXSDT8T1ZVjygjX0ejMlKrIV91Nr4GyDFI/s640/photo.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />The tattoo reads "I'd rather die on my feet / Than live life on my knees."<br /><br />This holiday weekend is all about honoring those men and women in our armed services that have made the ultimate sacrifice as defenders of our freedom and way of life.<br /><br />Not many people know that the quote <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata">originates</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata">Emiliano Zapata</a>, who fought to overthrow the dictatorship during the Mexican Revolution in the early part of the twentieth century. Its meaning can be interpreted with many nuances, but I understand it to mean that it is better to die fighting for freedom than to live in servitude to others.<br /><br />I didn't speak to Brandon for very long - it was a passing encounter, but I appreciate his service and sacrifice, and I encourage everyone to take a moment and reflect on the true meaning of this holiday, if you haven't already.<br /><br />I'd also encourage people to check out <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/01/tattoos-i-know-tracys-tributes.html">this post</a> from my friend Tracy, whose tattoo honors one of our fallen soldiers.<br /><br />Thanks to Brandon and all of our armed forces for their service to our country.<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.7556604635901749"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

Memorial Day Post: Brandon's Leg Says It All

I met Brandon briefly while passing through Penn Station one day back in March. I was drawn to the script on his leg and it seemed to be app...

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Happy Mother's Day from Tattoosday

I wanted to celebrate Mother's Day with something new, but didn't have a lot in the backlog that was specifically motherly.<br /><br />Then I remembered <a href="http://www.meaghanfarrellmusic.com/">Meaghan Farrell</a>.<br /><br />I met Meaghan last month in Penn Station and approached her when I saw her tattoos. Turns out, Meaghan is a singer-songwriter with 15 tattoos, more of which will appear here tomorrow.<br /><br />One of the tattoos we talked about was this one on her inner right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp68DfrxBGZLbtIqe4stzbho58BOHU9B4EbDw9aeI_xBs4_4MUU9D_LCBn6p-2hBWEw7rKpcJ25SSVzYvHh8KC8LEbrckW8aQo935C9NyGzM_BYdpEVL8idk7QV2O3_3RGz39x9r2onOo/s1600/madge+alt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp68DfrxBGZLbtIqe4stzbho58BOHU9B4EbDw9aeI_xBs4_4MUU9D_LCBn6p-2hBWEw7rKpcJ25SSVzYvHh8KC8LEbrckW8aQo935C9NyGzM_BYdpEVL8idk7QV2O3_3RGz39x9r2onOo/s400/madge+alt.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br />Madge Gassaway was Meaghan's grandmother, who passed away when Meaghan was only nine. Madge, she told me, was a "strong, independent woman," who had a huge impact on her life.<br /><br />The quote, words of wisdom that have significant meaning for Meaghan, was worthy of inscribing them on her flesh.<br /><br />Of course, right after I left Meaghan I realized, I forgot to take a picture of the quote from her grandmother, and she kindly sent me one she took herself.<br /><br />In addition, Meaghan also has this stunning rose on her right shoulder:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq9cBuDikcki6NgJPMKLq0bqFc_4w83S9yb-eMqoAioSPw1R_Xe2Oq5Nq9G7R-mjuSg2GOZD57CN7cZh9xYC0qffkaw8xZaXgKjr7nZhp2SDY9RMS2EnzG6DVBqRNMIC2x3ul8AC3zaE/s1600/Meaghan%2527s+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq9cBuDikcki6NgJPMKLq0bqFc_4w83S9yb-eMqoAioSPw1R_Xe2Oq5Nq9G7R-mjuSg2GOZD57CN7cZh9xYC0qffkaw8xZaXgKjr7nZhp2SDY9RMS2EnzG6DVBqRNMIC2x3ul8AC3zaE/s400/Meaghan%2527s+rose.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><br />Meaghan explained that her grandmother had an amazing rose garden, and that this tattoo represents not only the memory of her.<br /><br />The artist responsible for these tattoos is <a href="http://www.myspace.com/beansink">Mr. Beans</a>, at <a href="http://www.fatcattattoos.com/">Fat Cat Tattoos NYC</a> in Astoria, Queens.<br /><br />Tune in tomorrow for two more of Meaghan's tattoos. I wanted to share these today in honor of mothers and grandmothers everywhere, who have such a great impact on all of our lives.<br /><br />Thanks to Meaghan for sharing her tattoos with us here at Tattoosday! Happy Mother's Day to All!<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Happy Mother's Day from Tattoosday

I wanted to celebrate Mother's Day with something new, but didn't have a lot in the backlog that was specifically motherly. Then I r...

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Michelle's Tattoo Takes Your Breath Away

Michelle has a lot of ink, twenty-one tattoos, all told, but when I stopped her in Penn Station, she chose to share this one with us:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcVWC9rTib_-yS4M8zY7kXOgXT0qkOesDXjrT_cG8dgjGjRK6SAKcZSJDFZvnqejaqEDxFKm5qI-nMdGwL4YQc_xAVdP6v7K2A7wlmmh50RbufH9LhQvwu5Nn-pqA38GVEDYfCgRI/s1600/moments+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcVWC9rTib_-yS4M8zY7kXOgXT0qkOesDXjrT_cG8dgjGjRK6SAKcZSJDFZvnqejaqEDxFKm5qI-nMdGwL4YQc_xAVdP6v7K2A7wlmmh50RbufH9LhQvwu5Nn-pqA38GVEDYfCgRI/s400/moments+1.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br />Boldly planted on her upper right arm, Michelle explained that she paraphrased and pared down a longer quotation to read, more simply, "Live for the moments that take your breath away". I believe she was referring to the saying, "<span style="font-family: arial;">Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." </span><br /><br />The flowers in the photo are cherry blossoms that were done in blue, rather than the traditional pink because, as Michelle tells it, she's "not really a pink kind of girl".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlipMkADmKV2iko_G0GDm3tgSufphWA4G4SGtB6iVkjoYWX2m8dgDaNmG3VjnkLB7DlFkgxHJQyKp1K7rdmbT2TXpEgJitBeg1NfdwbPI6HxF1rakqqihsxlvKtgBIC9ZNblUM-PB_/s1600/moments+1+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlipMkADmKV2iko_G0GDm3tgSufphWA4G4SGtB6iVkjoYWX2m8dgDaNmG3VjnkLB7DlFkgxHJQyKp1K7rdmbT2TXpEgJitBeg1NfdwbPI6HxF1rakqqihsxlvKtgBIC9ZNblUM-PB_/s400/moments+1+detail.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br />This tattoo was inked by <a href="http://hobostattoo.site.aplus.net/fattony.shtml">Fat Tony</a> at <a href="http://hobostattoo.site.aplus.net/">Hobo's Tattoo Shop</a> in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.<br /><br />Thanks to Michelle for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Michelle's Tattoo Takes Your Breath Away

Michelle has a lot of ink, twenty-one tattoos, all told, but when I stopped her in Penn Station, she chose to share this one with us: Boldly...

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