HAPPY TATTOO TO YOU

Wow, what a whirlwind 5 days!  The Glammy Grammy had a birthday (go ahead and ask…..I’m 48 again) this past weekend.  It was an “over the top” celebration that seemed to go on for several days.  Most of it pretty normal stuff but there were a few surprises.  First, on Thursday our daughter, Mimi and son-in-law, Sam came for a visit from their home in St. Croix!    In our family, the girls are what you might call; “free spirits” and our boys are very focused and driven.  Well, Ms. Free Spirit had been harboring a secret wish……a new tattoo!  Maybe I should have been at least a little dismayed but secretly I was thinking, how great is this, I’m going to get to mark something off my “To Do” list without actually having to do it! 

Being very involved as a parent can sometimes make you feel like more of an accomplice than a parent….case in point, the tattoo adventure!  I’m always open to a new adventure and this was no exception.  With a well placed phone call to a girlfriend who knows her way around the local artist community, Saturday morning finds Daddy-O and I headed to a local studio, Artist At Large, with our children!  I had never seen the inside of a tattoo parlor and can’t really say with any certainty what I expected but it wasn’t what I discovered.  While I’m not running out to get one myself, I’d have to say it turned out to be quite an impressive operation.  The place was really hopping, enough so that 4 artists and 2 support staff were busy non-stop, resulting in a 4 to 5 hour wait! 

It might surprise you to know that this rather large waiting area was filled with all kinds of people waiting for their tatts, young and also not so young professionals, military persons, and at least one Grammy!  I know I was surprised to learn that these artists must be licensed by the state, do hours of practical work, an internship and continuing education each year.  This truly is an art form and these are some very talented people.  Fast forward to the end of the day and our daughter walked out with a few of her favorite words of wisdom on her foot where she’ll always be able to see them.  “Congratulations!  Today is your day.  You’re off to great places, you’re off and away”.  Dr. Seuss.  Not to be left out of the fun, our son-in-law is now sporting a great likeness of one of his favorite characters, Snoopy, flying his dog house.  Josh Cruse, the artist, was able to incorporate an important date in the tattoo. 

The weather was perfect which isn’t all that common around here in the spring, what with tornados and such!  Can this birthday get any better?  YES!!  Our youngest son Nick, and his family make it back from a business/pleasure trip in time for a couple days of food, fun and fellowship before his sister heads back home to St. Croix.  She and Sam get to spend some quality time with little Mr. Lunden including a sleep over at Grammy’s.  By the way, Grammy didn’t get much sleep!  Now that should be treat enough for any Mom and Grammy and it would have been except for one little thing.  My very thoughtful daughter-in-law, Sabrina made it a point to go to Queenie’s in Tulsa (an incredible little sandwich shop and bakery) for one of my most favorite treats in the entire world, Queenie’s famous Carrot Cake.  I think it actually covers all the major food groups so it must be healthy, right?  Healthy or not, it is the best life a carrot will ever see!

What a fun time this has been and with any luck, I’ve been able to post some tattoo pictures in the blog. If not, I’ll get some help or create a new album on The Glammy Grammy facebook page, maybe both!  Can you tell what the date is below Snoopy and any guesses as to why it is significant?