Ealain

Yesterday, a semi-truck rear-ended a school bus that was stopped to let off students. The school bus was pushed forward 200 - 300 feet before bursting into flames. Passers-by risked themselves to enter the bus and rescue 20 of the 21 students on the bus. The one left was “lodged” and couldn’t be rescued.

The crash occured in Citra, Florida, a small town only a few towns away from where I grew up. The bus held students from North Marion Middle School and North Marion High School, the middle school I went to and the first high school I went to.

My cousin Noelle knew a few of the students on the bus and her best friend Ama knew the girl that died: 13-year old Frances Margay Schee.

Sources & Further Reading:
Deadly School Bus Accident in Ocala
Truck Driver Was On His Cell
Marion County Officials Say Bystanders Saved Students From Burning Bus
She Had A Wonderful Smile
Girl Killed, 8 Hurt As Semi Hits Bus
4 Rescuers Tell Story of School Bus Crash
Mother Braves Flames to Pull Her Kids From Burning Bus

As I mentioned before, my tattoos tend to be me-related and I shove tons of meaning through them if there is any chance of me getting them. I want them to be pretty but I want them to represent who I am and what I believe in.

My plan for my third tattoo had all of that. My main issue with it is that it had a lot more detail and was bigger. I was definitely over-confident in the pain department, though. I take pain well and my other two (both on bone) didn’t hurt, so while I did consider that this one would hurt more, it was definitely far worse than I thought.

But, I got it. It took an hour and fourty-five minutes. Most of which was spent keeping still and digging my fingernails into my fingers and palm to counteract the pain. Why, you ask? Because the tattoo is on my left side, smack dab on my ribs.

Lemme tell you, don’t get a tattoo there unless you’re ok with tons of pain. And I take pain well.

Click the more thingy for a picture. Keep in mind it was taken the night I got the tattoo, so it’s really really red. And keep in mind it was taken with my camera phone so it is a tad blurry. Better in person. Read the rest of this entry »

In my life, I’ve always found comfort in getting things out in writing and art: physical, substantial representations of whatever it is I’m confronting. In the natural process of discovering who I am, what I believe, and where my place is in this world, I have found myself doing the same thing. I think that is the reason behind my tattoos.

My first was “skyefairy” on my right hip. As my confidence faltered, my best friend reminded me what it means to me. It wasn’t just my website, it was the essense of me wrapped up in one word. I can’t explain it here, but trust me on that. And also, if I were to get a tattoo, it was proof to myself that I could actually do something and take a risk without chickening out, backing down, or–as always–playing it safe.

My second was a set of musical notes on my mid-back. Music has always been a big part of my life. When I was five, I declared I wanted to be a singer and that belief never faltered. I performed for my family with my cousins, I practiced endlessly, I joined the chorus. The notes were from the Beatles song “Blackbird,” specifically “take these broken wings and learn to fly.” I’ve encountered many obstacles in my life that have broken my metaphorical wings. Yet, I always strive to do what my mom told me to: keep going, never give up.

Yet, now I have another decision to make. I have a third tattoo in mind. I like the tattoo’s image, it represents me in another facet, and I’m comfortable with the placement (though this one will hurt a whole helluva lot more). But I’m left with that same doubt I had on the first. That in itself is intrinsic to who I am, though. I secondguess EVERYTHING. And I usually play it safe. So, I’m starting to wonder: do I get number three and continue with depicting who I am on the inside physically on the outside or do I let it stand and leave it at two?

And, am I trying to convince myself of who I am or do I know who I am and I’m merely trying to represent it in the best way I know how, putting it in more definable terms?