The Tattooed Poets Project: Nescher Pyscher

<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today's tattooed poet is named Nescher Pyscher and hails from Cambridge, Ohio.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nescher offered  up his right wrist for us here at Tattoosday:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrUK0xKccYnLqsTPRjRv__TbH-kZpLiJlXT1-XNfQQqavgaLX7DgBj19m8iEZ7qLlfCsocOWZm1Fy9TDFDwa9r_8Q1RmPSyesqiKPvT6aLQ78_2hbAyFI2JUibldxJvzu8b7U4DUIQAE/s1600/Geir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrUK0xKccYnLqsTPRjRv__TbH-kZpLiJlXT1-XNfQQqavgaLX7DgBj19m8iEZ7qLlfCsocOWZm1Fy9TDFDwa9r_8Q1RmPSyesqiKPvT6aLQ78_2hbAyFI2JUibldxJvzu8b7U4DUIQAE/s400/Geir.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Nescher Pyscher</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Nescher explains:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">"The tattoo was done in two parts. The first part was my wife's name in Chinese, surrounded by an infinity symbol. It was my wedding present for her. I designed the tattoo myself, and I was inspired to do so by a ink-stamper-thing-y my wife's father brought home for her from </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">China</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">. The second part, my son's name, was my wife's Christmas present to me when our son was born. I do not remember the name of the tattoo studios or the artists, but both tats were procured in the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Akron</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Ohio</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> area."</span></div></blockquote>As a matter of clarification, I asked Nescher about the kanji representing his wife's name. He told me that the "three symbols mean--so I've been told--'Mother,' 'Earth' and 'Love.' " He added that she is a geologist, by occupation. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAmS9rRUnLg4P6dzDKotNS93kjVy-FtteiUt-GLhQ4-zVZ4ad0XNYXiUh-Me4zreOJLKnGfWlKKLMDEKZ8fc23M_ZJL1e3Y1SFKHnT5ficSmpupLK-FnJTO25STCvG1RwEhYroHRXGzo/s1600/Geir+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAmS9rRUnLg4P6dzDKotNS93kjVy-FtteiUt-GLhQ4-zVZ4ad0XNYXiUh-Me4zreOJLKnGfWlKKLMDEKZ8fc23M_ZJL1e3Y1SFKHnT5ficSmpupLK-FnJTO25STCvG1RwEhYroHRXGzo/s400/Geir+detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Nescher Pyscher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">As for his son's name, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geir">Geir</a>, he clarified that his name means Spear, which is Icelandic or Norwegian, in origin. Nescher added that "names with value and freighted with meaning are important in my family. He is the strong weapon in my right hand, the spear we cast into the future."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">As for a poem, Nescher, offered up this piece:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">dustbitten</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i plant the seed of myself within myself-- </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">mutated, cloned, half-life-whole that</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">gropes toward darkening life-- </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">and watch the poisoned weed of me grow.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am the frozen feathers of a bird in flight, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">locked to dead tree, dying in estrous, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">decayed in birth, and forgotten before the wind</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">could sweep through feathers.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am eye, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am face, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am ear</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am the frozen corpse at the bottom of the well</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">leaking into life; oozing into being;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">draining into dream and desire</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am fist</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am nail</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am bent, broken finger</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i water the tumors of me with the salt of my tears</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">the iron tang of my blood, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">the sweet toxin of my urine.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am teeth</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am tongue</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am busily working lips</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i eat my flesh, taken straight from crippled vine</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">and wince at the taste of my self-inflicted pain,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">juices running unchecked down my pocked and hairless</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">chin</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am blister</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am burn</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am wounded, weeping sore</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">my madness drives me, sings inside me</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">and keeps me warm</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">the feel of meeting teeth on my broken skin feels</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">like warm rain in the evening;  </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">sun setting on life forever</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am stone</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am flesh</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">i am dust</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> ~ ~ ~</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAwFDf2YXB4UkfmpMP2PSc0dV_86Skw79CiEBEKc7z2dsWuJQZzwem1JjrHIBJ9VwUEvUFiT1_heJFHFQgWH1nyfrvp00mBzwwK_lMP_kKijm3rcNG7oy8Xh-4kdKI3Z2yAnvWKmezt4/s1600/nescher.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAwFDf2YXB4UkfmpMP2PSc0dV_86Skw79CiEBEKc7z2dsWuJQZzwem1JjrHIBJ9VwUEvUFiT1_heJFHFQgWH1nyfrvp00mBzwwK_lMP_kKijm3rcNG7oy8Xh-4kdKI3Z2yAnvWKmezt4/s320/nescher.gif" width="236" /></a><span style="color: black;">Nescher Pyscher--his real name. Honest!--is a happily married, thirty-five year old author and poet living, writing and staying at home with his son in the Cambridge, Ohio area. His writing can be found at <a href="http://nescherpyscher.weebly.com/check-it-out.html">Weebly.com</a>, <a href="http://www.helium.com/users/607400/show_articles">Helium.com</a>, <i>Pablo Lennis</i>, and his book of short stories, <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1425118097/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1425118097%22%3EItchy%20Whispers%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=1425118097%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Itchy Whispers</a>,</i> is now available from Trafford or Amazon.com. His adventures in ineptitude with his son, The Pants, can be read twice weekly at <i><a href="http://www.daily-jeff.com/">The Daily Jeffersonian</a>.  </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Thanks to Nescher for sharing his tattoos and his poetry with us here on Tattoosday!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1425118097" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Nescher Pyscher

Today's tattooed poet is named Nescher Pyscher and hails from Cambridge, Ohio. Nescher offered  up his right wrist for us here at Tattoo...

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Three's Not a Crowd

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I met a trio of friends hanging out in Penn Station in early October, waiting for their train back to Rhode Island.<br /><br />I spotted Darius first, which was understandable, as he has seventeen tattoos. Kenny and Katie, his friends, each boasted a modest three tattoos apiece, and offered up theirs as well.<br /><br />Let's start with Darius, who has this traditional Mom and Sparrow tattoo on his forearm:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmnUCotuss7WG0b6uDtR5md5lIU3rCexqDY6amg4jpAZVA_dMVTwKLBtRarJSJ0Y3JkmSGEPLK2MkVX0RyLKeI-hTFK_FDhxak_chmsEAhZnFzLwa5GIHmu-a8mC8Cj2_hBlA2CRdx6g/s1600/Mom+Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmnUCotuss7WG0b6uDtR5md5lIU3rCexqDY6amg4jpAZVA_dMVTwKLBtRarJSJ0Y3JkmSGEPLK2MkVX0RyLKeI-hTFK_FDhxak_chmsEAhZnFzLwa5GIHmu-a8mC8Cj2_hBlA2CRdx6g/s640/Mom+Sparrow.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><br />He said that he and two other friends got the same tattoo.<br /><br />This was done by <a href="http://whiskeynotwater.com/home.html">Jae Audette</a> at <a href="http://mcinnistattoo.com/home.html">Mcinnis Tattoo Company</a>  in Providence, Rhode Island. Work from the shop appeared previously on the site <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Mcinnis%20Tattoo%20Company">here</a>.<br /><br />The other tattoo, on his bicep, is this set of brass knuckles that says "Knuckle Up":<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8y0DzAmuIf8GeU2DNHfiKMFU6w9NZ4cspzZ0ZYMnq6vSF5iBZigZ-xm5KD9ClzxNJ1ImxHVyDC2TTcCTJEVJbyju4gShXXf18mpVsK7S4E4kKo0enxuTfwyaFPSmLVdPfmBzXTViPjo/s1600/knuckle+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8y0DzAmuIf8GeU2DNHfiKMFU6w9NZ4cspzZ0ZYMnq6vSF5iBZigZ-xm5KD9ClzxNJ1ImxHVyDC2TTcCTJEVJbyju4gShXXf18mpVsK7S4E4kKo0enxuTfwyaFPSmLVdPfmBzXTViPjo/s400/knuckle+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This was done by <a href="http://www.alteredimagestattoo.net/forrest.aspx">Forrest Curl</a> at <a href="http://www.alteredimagestattoo.net/">Altered Images Tattoo Studio</a> in Cumberland, Rhode Island.<br /><br />Also from Altered Images is this still-in-progress rib piece on Kenny:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnk5GSUP1gaCg6S5HWmnMJSCSmrDtLLwb4MAXiuKth0gl27G68P52xd9tEqFZZz4ynTuzbF4GMOFRMekYk-aM3swq-YNvZOb3IuR6L1p3LuJ29zk8JCu4vRuaLeBR6SEb7ec_Qlksrtk/s1600/Crimson+King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnk5GSUP1gaCg6S5HWmnMJSCSmrDtLLwb4MAXiuKth0gl27G68P52xd9tEqFZZz4ynTuzbF4GMOFRMekYk-aM3swq-YNvZOb3IuR6L1p3LuJ29zk8JCu4vRuaLeBR6SEb7ec_Qlksrtk/s640/Crimson+King.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />This is a depiction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_King">The Crimson King</a> from <a href="http://www.stephenking.com/index.html">Stephen King's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_%28series%29">Dark Tower Series</a>. As you would imagine, Kenny is a huge fan.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.alteredimagestattoo.net/rob.aspx">Rob Young</a> is the artist who is working on this piece.<br /><br />Katie then generously offered to show me her tattoo, which runs down her spine:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK8K8O8f_UOxiSGow_Wu-hUAfdQWY_eb-VD-IQjB-Mnbf9zQnTTWc7qy9j515bz0cfRAX35CDBTeHgUd9uyVtzcRxZfSu4bLVGa3lct8ecrdLYlRHYoJOwS0vyS9ejfh1C1RxynyQdzQ/s1600/Family+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK8K8O8f_UOxiSGow_Wu-hUAfdQWY_eb-VD-IQjB-Mnbf9zQnTTWc7qy9j515bz0cfRAX35CDBTeHgUd9uyVtzcRxZfSu4bLVGa3lct8ecrdLYlRHYoJOwS0vyS9ejfh1C1RxynyQdzQ/s640/Family+1.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br />When I asked if she wouldn't mind sending me another photo, since the tattoo was partially obscured by her bra strap, she didn't hesitate to unhook it so I could photograph the whole tattoo, unobscured:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9yDNRHbpEiOsKMiOZpszlvL_KAJl43w3YctQdFA_8p1AbgETl0JOqTW2GK-86BcZMSAXQNDwRNselDlozVQFbEbcIJK3N1y4P-ZXGfRLkOQMOf1wx_SegePx9vX1eas56cHOsGwi-64/s1600/Family+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9yDNRHbpEiOsKMiOZpszlvL_KAJl43w3YctQdFA_8p1AbgETl0JOqTW2GK-86BcZMSAXQNDwRNselDlozVQFbEbcIJK3N1y4P-ZXGfRLkOQMOf1wx_SegePx9vX1eas56cHOsGwi-64/s640/Family+2.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br />Katie explained that her heritage is Armenian, and that the letters down her spine spell the word for "family".<br /><br />She added that two of her cousins have the same tattoo, but inked on their arms.<br /><br />She also noted that the infinity symbol at the base of her neck speaks to the Armenian text and symbolizes, for her, "family forever".<br /><br />She did not recall the name of the shop where she had this done, but recalled it was on Long Island, New York, and that the artist was "Joey D".<br /><br />Thanks to Darius, Kenny and Katie for sharing their tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Three's Not a Crowd

I met a trio of friends hanging out in Penn Station in early October, waiting for their train back to Rhode Island. I spotted Darius first, ...

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Tattoosday Goes To Hawai'i - All in the Family, Part 4 (Lehua's Eternal Tribute to Poppa John)

<div class="post-header"></div>Closest of my Hawai'i nieces and nephews is Lehua who, in essence, is a third sister in my Hawai'i <i>ohana</i>. My wife and I had the tremendous honor of  Lehua dancing hula at our wedding reception in 1995, which many guests still recall as the highlight of the post-ceremony festivities.<br /><br />In honor of Poppa John, who passed away suddenly on the fifteenth anniversary of our wedding and that memorable hula, Lehua had this touching memorial inked on her foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDs76jSvAuo0p58gPzR1ikKERVPRJt1-8Uw7DFAuW_i1cvTAWvsz4w3XaA9-sAE_sB-6OyIfhCyZDMT2rWctBm5xnmJqH0yuSMDCtebhuU8HM81C6xPiYgGOnzKHV7xkbKXbfK4t0/s1600/Lehua+Foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDs76jSvAuo0p58gPzR1ikKERVPRJt1-8Uw7DFAuW_i1cvTAWvsz4w3XaA9-sAE_sB-6OyIfhCyZDMT2rWctBm5xnmJqH0yuSMDCtebhuU8HM81C6xPiYgGOnzKHV7xkbKXbfK4t0/s400/Lehua+Foot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Lehua explains that this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity">infinity</a> symbol represents eternity in the context that Poppa John will be remembered forever.<br /><br />What I love about this relatively simple design is that each circle contains an astrological sign, giving more significance to the tattoo.<br /><br />Looking at the photo, the sign on the left is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_%28astrology%29">Gemini</a>, and the sign on the right is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_%28astrology%29">Sagittarius</a>. The Gemini sign represents Lehua's son Raycn (Poppa John's great-grandson) and, of course, Sagittarius was the sign of Poppa John. The tattoo thus bridges four generations and is a reminder of the eternal ties that will carry on the memory of John Ferreira.<br /><br />Coincidentally, Raycn shares the same sign as my mother (his great-grandma), Diane, whose birthday happens to be today, May 23. So, even though I know the meaning for Lehua is the link between John and Raycn, through Lehua, I interpret a second unintended meaning: the love of John and Diane, woven together, 25 years in this world, and the rest of time beyond.<br /><br />The tattoo was inked by <a href="http://twitter.com/Tattoo_Nick">Nick Nakashima</a> at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waipahu-HI/Heart-Soul-Ink/222619494522">Heart & Soul Ink</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waipahu,_Hawaii">Waipahu</a>, Hawai'i.<br /><br />Thanks to Lehua for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />Previously in the <i>Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i - All in the Family</i> series:<br /><br /><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-goes-to-hawaii-all-in-family.html">Part 1, A Preface</a> <br /><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-goes-to-hawaii-all-in-family_19.html">Part 2, Keali'i's Sleeves</a><br /><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-goes-to-hawaii-all-in-family_21.html">Part 3, Ikaika, In Progress</a>

Tattoosday Goes To Hawai'i - All in the Family, Part 4 (Lehua's Eternal Tribute to Poppa John)

Closest of my Hawai'i nieces and nephews is Lehua who, in essence, is a third sister in my Hawai'i ohana . My wife and I had the tre...

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