My first tattoo

It took me a long time to figure out who I was, for myself, not in terms of how other people perceived me or how I thought I was supposed to be for them. Sometime in my 23rd year I finally came to realize that in being the person I was, I wasn't being true to myself. As a sort of rebirth, I decided to get the tattoo I'd always dreamed about but had been too afraid to because of what I thought people would think of me.

I had picked the tattoo shop not only because I'd heard good things about the place, but they had what I was looking for - the Chinese symbol for "soul" - and when we walked in to make an appointment the Beatles were playing on the radio (yes, I am a "signs" girl).

The day of my appointment my friend accompanied me and sat nearby as I had the tattoo done. The tattoo was on the small of my back and the sensation was at times a bit painful, but mostly just unusual. They had the radio going and for the most part the songs just washed in and out of my ears with no consequence. Until I picked up on a song with a wonderfully familiar voice. I'd never heard the song before but knew almost immediately it had to be the Black Crowes' new single - and I loved it!

I became a Black Crowes fan with Amorica, one of their stranger albums, I liked the followup Three Snakes and One Charm, but was not a huge fan of By Your Side (which most other fans will say is them taking steps back to their roots). This was the first song I'd heard by them that really fit in well with the Black Crowes I liked, the slightly more off the wall Crowes. The entire Lions album is fabulous - I love it... but I can't help but imagine getting inked when I hear Lickin'.