In Loving Memory Tattoos
June 5, 2008
She is gone now! Where did she go? Is there life after death? If so, what is she doing now? These are some of the questions that occupied my mind when my mother passed away. But they were more or less on the intellectual side.
The emotional part was screaming that I could never talk to her again. It was weeping for the times lost, the words that would never again be exchange. It longed for even the arguments.
One of the most difficult parts was when our family was going through a life time of pictures to select a handful for the memorial ceremony. How would you pick a handful of images to represent a life time? We wanted to place all the pictures around but we couldn’t. We had to choose and we were in an emotional mess so that we could not choose.
When I started looking into “In Loving Memory Tattoos” the entire ordeal just rushed in as if it was yesterday. No, as if it was today when my mother passed away. This refreshed pain made me realize why many are attracted to loving memory tattoos.
No external symbol of remembering someone can get any closer to us than a tattoo. And some need to keep the memory as close as possible and for them is not enough to have the love in the heart and memories in the head. They want some tangible reminder for themselves perhaps others.
With a simple tattoo, they are saying, “Here! Look at this! Remember her! I loved her, I miss her terribly! I will not let her memory fade as long as I live. This is what she loved and in this image I have tried to capture her life. Tried and failed perhaps but I did try.”
Wait! And Be Patient
I don’t know if the pain ever subsides, but I do know that I learned to cope with the pain and as time passed, I remember some of the rash, short tempered decisions I made during that very emotional time. I wish that I could have changed a few things about my behavior and decisions that are now irrevocable.
Don’t get me wrong I am not suggesting that you do not get a tattoo, instead, I am suggesting that your reasons for getting the tattoo may change with a little time and you may see the tattoo design you wanted in a different light and the one that did not appeal to you, may be the one that you really want.
In the beginning we mourn the loss and are attracted to what reflects that loss, later as we heal we begin to remember the fun parts, the joy and the achievements and we see the celebration of life. Our “In Loving Memory Tattoo” design of choice in the beginning more than likely will have dark, gloomy and downcast tone to it which is exactly the way we feel at that point. Later, as we begin to remember an celebrate the life of the one gone, we may choose those colors, scenes and object that our loved one enjoyed and the tones she loved. These tattoos are after all to remember them and what we loved about them for a lifetime and not to remember the short and yet incredibly powerful days surrounding our loss.
In Loving Memory Tattoos Designs and Ideas
One of the most common memorial design tattoos is the portrait of the person, perhaps one of their favorite pictures of themselves, along with simple RIP text. You could also pick something the person loved like their favorite animals. A beautiful horse running through a grassy meadow could reflect what they loved as well as symbolize your belief about life after death and the freedom Soul experiences without the burden of the body. There are also common items like a cross, a dove, or some flowers. Since this is your tattoo, it is really up to you to pick the symbols that show your unique relationship with the one passed on.
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