double g’s

Today I travel to Texas. While I’ll land at Dallas/Fort Worth, and stay with my son and daughter-in-law in Keller, my destination is really Arlington, where my granddaughter lives.

Something remarkable and long thought about, is going to happen in Arlington.

I’m going to get a tattoo! Georgia and I are getting matching tattoos!

For a dozen or more years, I’ve thought about getting a tattoo.

My granddaughter, Georgia, has several. She’s a E.R. trauma nurse at a hospital in downtown Dallas. I’m in awe of her for many reasons, certainly for her work and her strength.

Two years ago, Georgia travelled for a short visit. Just a couple of days after she left my home, I read a news piece about grandmothers and granddaughters getting matching tattoos. It was a trend that was new to me!

Families Get Matching Tattoos: ‘My Grandma Was Like, Sure!’ was the title of the WSJ September 2022 article.

It went on to caption “Fading taboos on tattoos, especially among first-timers in middle age and older, have opened a buzzy fashion niche for intergenerational ink.”

I’ve never aspired to be in a buzzy fashion niche, but…

I texted Georgia about the article. Her reply was, “feeling inspired?” I replied, “kind of”.

And so it began.

We talked about it off and on. Then when I visited Georgia last March, we stopped by The Chosen One Ink.

She wanted to make sure I wasn’t too old. Karina assured us I was not too old.

Now here we are. Ready to do this.

A surprisingly empty interstate through Atlanta this morning.

Quiet time at ATL. For now.

I’m soon to board my flight. Stay tuned.

Travelling mercies.