The first tattoo I got was a traditional design of a winged 'sacred heart' on my back, in between my shoulder blades [which was done by Ms. Deborah at Ms. Deborah's Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, FL]. My mom actually took me to get it done on my 16th birthday because I wasn't 18 yet. She could tell, even with me at such a young age, that tattoos weren't just some fad or phase that I went through; she saw, and accepted, the love, interest, and passion that I felt for not only the designs [especially American traditional and neo-traditional tattoo art], but also for the entire culture that has evolved from the lifestyle and art-form of tattooing throughout the years. That passion still burns today, stronger than ever before; thanks mom!

My next project will probably be to get the traditional, "Protect My Family" design that I have outlined on the right side of my ribcage finished... finally! I've had just the outline for years now, so it's definitely time to add some color and detail in there to get the piece all completed!