Almost 2 weeks ago, I visited Airo at Obscura Tattoo to get a very sentimental piece done. Having seen the quality of her fine line work, I reached out to her a while back to see if she would take my project on, and I was honoured when she replied to say she would.
As it happened, the next appointmemt slot that worked for me was on Halloween! Pretty epic way to spend the holiday, right? Not least because the tattoo was meant to commemorate my dearly departed cat Whiskers.
Ever since she passed away, I’d wanted to get her pawprints tattooed on my right thigh; whenever I was sitting at my computer, she always used to come and brace her forepaws against my thigh in order to stretch up and cuddle into my belly or nuzzle my arm, and then she’d stare pointedly at me with her big beautifully green eyes and meow. She had such silky-soft, thick brown fur, and the sweetest little black toe beans. When I winked at her, she would wink back. On weekend mornings, especially, if I wasn’t getting out of bed, she would snuggle in with me, purring loudly to soothe us both.
She was my baby, supporting me emotionally through a very difficult period of my life, and her death devastated me. For many years after, I could hardly bear to talk about her or look at her pictures (or even other cats), and had had no intention of ever adopting another cat, but with time… certain hurts have healed. I like to think she’d have an exasperated sort of affection for her exhuberant, fastidious little brother Scout. Finally getting her inky, smudged pawprints tattoed on my leg was like preserving the echo of her love on my skin. It was making visible a ghostly touch I have felt ever since she left.
It was a serene experience…
I was both touched and impressed by how intently Airo kept checking the reference pawprints to make sure she captured all the ink smudging and pinpricks as faithfully as possible. I so very much appreciate the care she took.
The tattoo is healing well so far, and every time I look down at the pawprints on my thigh, I just feel such a sense of tenderness for Whiskers, and all the love and comfort she gave me while she was alive. I’m so lucky she chose me as her human, and stayed with me for 17 years.
Rest in peace, my sweet girl.
You will always be in my heart.