Gametes In Love

8 years ago I got a tattoo. It had been something I had been thinking about for a long time to commemorate a few major events in my life:
– my mom beating cancer
– my dad’s heart problems
– a difficult relationship

What I wanted to remember was that despite the difficult things that happened, I got through it and I’m a stronger person for it. I chose to put an ivy leaf on the small of my back (yes, yes, I’ve got a tramp stamp). Ivy, is a plant that can survive and thrive in dark and harsh conditions. I wanted it to serve as a reminder that as ivy can, I can get through difficult moments too.

I spent awhile designing it (yes, myself thank you very much), and a few months of “marker practice” before I committed it in permanent ink. I wanted to be sure that this was something for me.

It’s days like today that bring up the purpose of this tattoo. My dad had heart by-pass surgery. He’s now in recovery waiting to be transferred to intensive care. While he’s not officially out of the woods, he’s past the first hurdle.

So while I wait, I’m here thinking of my body art and thought I’d share this part of me. Some explanation:

1. I really like tribal body artwork. The 5-starred ivy leaf is my tribal interpretation.

2. I left the blank space in the middle so that I can add life-changing events to it (I heard that once you get 1 tattoo you keep coming back, so instead of growing out on the canvas, I thought I’d grow in). I’m yet to add S and G to it. It’s not that I don’t want to. I’m just not ready to yet, as I haven’t found just the right symbols for them.

3. the notch on the top leaf is to remind me that bad events can carry their scars. But you all dig scars, right?

That’s it for now. It’s been a long day.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers and general positive words from today.

About a month ago (perhaps more) we noticed that a bird would constantly fly away from our porch whenever we’d walk up to our front door. I didn’t think much of it at the time until several days later when S observed that we have a nest. That’s right! A nest!

What amused me most was that we have fake planters along our porch wall. Thank you, IKEA! I’ve tried real ones, believe me, but it’s dark there so any real plants just die within two-three weeks. Apparently the birds aren’t fundamentalist naturalists and chose to make one of said fake plants their new home. If I think about it it makes great sense — our porch is not often frequented (we’re apparently not too popular); it’s shaded from sun (to obscurity) and wind; as well as predators attacks are slim. Score 1 for the birdies!

Our little nest had 5 eggs in there, and I kept waiting for the right time to take a picture of them, but missed it as last week-end the eggs hatched and we now have birdies. Yep, little baby birds.

I’m excited! Aside from the pile of bird doo-doo that is now building up on my planter and porch, I’m really excited. I can’t wait to see them grow up!

I haven’t counted them to see how many of the eggs hatched, but I imagine there at least least 3 little birdies in there.

I also have no clue as to what variety. I could pretend they’re bluebirds, but can’t be sure as their wings don’t quite look blue to me, but brownish-gray. The eggs were blue, the size of my fingernail. The male (I’m assuming) is red-breasted, and the female quite plain. I For those of you birdiers out there, please guess. I’d love to know what they are.

Updated: Thank you for helping me identify them. They’re House Finches! The size, the bird call, the eggs — they all match. Thank you Angela! For lack of picture (taken by me) this is what they look like: