Reflections

Funny how just one cup of commitment can cause a avalanche of reflection. So it's story time... I met an extraordinary women once through the work that I do, she was living with the big C but death was always lurking.  She had an wonderful attitude.  Something that I admire, strong and brave.  That pick up and carry on attitude you don't encounter that often.  She explained to me once that she had always wanted a tattoo but never got around to it until she was  diagnosed in her 50's. So she had angel wings tattooed on her back.  Life size and beautiful.  For the world to see.  Very appropriate.  It effected me,  I've always been fascinated by tattoos and did brand myself at age 19.  So decided this time it had to mean something more than just a youthful rite of passage.   On my travels to Europe when I was in my 20's I toured Amsterdam and Anne Frank's annex.  Had an epiphany while walking through,  things became clearer to me after that.  My world view changed just a little.  I loved the quote from her book.  "Where there is hope there is life"... Hope is an essential theme in my life and work.  The quote also makes me think of being exiled, trapped in a life beyond your control but making a life inspite of it all.  So that's what I did I tattooed myself with that quote and a butterfly to signify freedom and growth.  It lives with me now, a constant reminder of those women who are strong and brave, fighting for life until the end.