I’m not sure if it’s obvious from any of my pictures, but I have this special tattoo on my right shoulder. My daughter designed it in remembrance of TJ and it’s been with me for just over two years. The original idea (per my request) had song lyrics wrapping the perimeter of a crescent moon that holds a swing with a boy on it. But the tattoo artist said the overall area where the tattoo was going would be too small for the writing. He suggested I add the words at a later time in a different place.
Finally that day arrived! Last month, after waiting two years, I made the appointment and two days ago the deed was done. I took same said daughter with me to the shop. She was with me the first time and she wanted to be there when it all came together.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned TJ’s love of Sinatra and how a bell choir played “Fly Me to the Moon” at his service, right? Well, if not, he did- does- love Frank and a choir did play that song at his service on January 16th, nearly three years ago. We- my entire family & close friends- were singing that song as TJ took his last breaths. The nurses and respiratory therapists wrote the lyrics in beautiful script and posted them all over his ICU room. I awoke to such sweet caring that morning; I remember it like it was THIS morning.
In any case, one of my favorite parts of the song is “let me play among the stars.” It’s what I envision TJ doing all day. His sweet spirit & inquisitive soul frolicking on moon beams and gathering up star dust. It is these lyrics that I had placed with indelible ink on the inside of my right upper arm. Why there? First, because it is close to the moon tattoo, but mainly so that it is always at my side. Whenever I move my arm I catch a glimpse of the dark lettering and am reminded that TJ is playing in the place where his soul is undoubtedly most happy. He loves space and quantum physics and I’m sure if a time warp or worm hole exists he will find it. The thought of that makes my heart smile- cry a little first, but then smile.
TJ’s birthday is fast approaching in two days, on September 23rd. He would have been 15! I’m unbelievably happy to have this completed in time. It’s sort of my present to him and to myself. It’s not much, but it’s mine.
*thanks to Tyler at The Inkwell for the beautiful calligraphy and touching up my TJ.
