Sorry for the long absence my friends. We lost our beloved kitty Simon at the end of May, and I've had a hard time finding energy for activities outside of daily necessities. But life has gone on, and the sun keeps rising in the morning (shout out to my flat-earth homies!). We have added a new kitten to our family, and I promise pictures will be forthcoming, but I couldn't bear to do a Before/After with Simon as the before - so I'm going to show you something else, and tell you a nice story.
15 years ago I was a different person. I got this fuzzy blue frog tattooed on my right ankle in a fit of ennui. This tattoo wasn't right from the start, it never looked crisp and it never spoke to me. Let this be a warning - love it from the first or you never will!
I've grown up a lot in the years since this tattoo. I've learned a lot about who I am and what I stand for. I've made peace with what I can do and what I can't, and I've learned to love who I am. These are all major accomplishments, and have come only after much work and soul searching. I am proud to reveal my new tattoo, one that represents what I love and who I am:
My frog is now a chubby dancing knitter, her knitting is attached to a Gay Pride rainbow of yarn. Over all of this is the phrase: Get pissed off in an orderly manner
Here's the story. Graduation was last week, one of the best days of the year as far as I'm concerned. The weather and location of the event were in harmony, the people in attendance were celebratory, I was full of a beautiful mix of pride and sorrow. Pride in the accomplishments of the wonderful women graduating, and sorrow at having to let them go into the future without being there to watch.
In the short time that I've been working here I have had the privilege of working closely with a group of students who are going to make the world a better place, and they set their sights first on our department. Their passion and their ideas burned through here like fire. It was amazing to watch. My role was to help them do what I could, and help them find the right channels to create as much of the change they desired as was possible. I did it the way I have done so many things in my life. Feel anger at what I perceive as wrong, get organized, create the change I need. I worked hard to meet their fire with optimism, open the doors that I could, and point them at windows (metaphorically) when my hands were tied. Their work is already beginning to pay off, it's up to the students who come behind to keep the flame burning. I'll be there to hand them a fan.
What does this have to do with the tattoo? Well, at their graduation, during the new graduate address, they called the undergraduate adviser and me up to the front. This is unheard of, especially as a staff person. I am a background worker and happy in that role, to be recognized is the highest honor I can conceive. As they presented us with gifts the speaker said: "for -- who taught us to get pissed, and for Elaine, who taught us to get pissed off in an orderly manner." Pissed of in an orderly manner, it doesn't get any more succinct than that.
So, with my mind blown and my ego running unchecked, I knew I wanted to incorporate her words into my body. There is the story behind the (Gay)prideful, knitting, troublemaker.
I'm so sorry for your kitty loss. I love the tattoo, and how awesome to be recognized for all that you do.
Posted by: emma | June 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
This entire post is full of awesome. I LOVE the altered tat, and love the story that goes with it. And I'm so sorry about Simon, but hope kitten antics are helping.
Posted by: moiraeknittoo | June 23, 2008 at 06:03 PM
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Posted by: Giselle | January 14, 2010 at 01:33 AM