July 1 09

I have had an interest in tattoos for a while, and kinda always wanted one but could never think off anything meaningful enough to have on my body the rest of my life. It was the beginning of May and my best friend, Monique, and I were talking about tattoos. She already has one on her lower back and has wanted more ever since. We have a made up name we call each other since we've been friends our entire lives. The word is "Hermiga." In Spanish the word hermana means sister and the word amiga means friend. Put them together and you get Hermiga. Meaning we are more like sisters than just friends.

She suggested we get matching tattoos of that word, and at first I just thought it was another silly idea of hers and just laughed it off. The more I thought about it though the more I realized that it was a perfect idea. She has been and always will be my best friend. There was no doubt in my mind that I would love this tattoo and not regret it at all.

She got her first tattoo from an artist up in Flagstaff and she really liked his work, so up to Flagstaff we went one day. On the drive up I did have a few moments of nervousness, but overall I was calm and ready. I still made her go first though since she'd done it before.

Is that a nervous or excited smile??

Monique getting hers done.

Yes, it hurt.

Monique's finished product. Hers is on her left ankle with purple writing.

Getting mine done.

By the time he was on the back of my ankle I was done. Yes, it hurt.

The back of mine...it does wrap all the way around.

Mine is on my right ankle with blue writing. Oh, and that's a mosquito bite right under it. It's gone now.

So, as of right now we have had them for 4 months and I am so happy we did it. There is not even a tiny bit of regret. I love it!