Ink.

expressing myself in a way I never had thought.

When I was younger, the thought of tattoos made me laugh. To be honest, the pain associated with them did not bother me. what did the fact that my attention was so bad, that the thought of permanence of something on me would not happen. I could barely grow my hair out before I shaved it off. Yes, at one point I did have hair for those doubters. I was also afraid of what my Mom would think.

Yes, I’m an adult but “Jewish Guilt,” my friends, is incredibly strong. It made me fearful! Mom, would have lost her mind if she saw that I got A tattoo let alone how many I have now.

• First Tattoo: Ruby

• Tattoo Artist:

• Pain Level: 8 (it was my first after all)

Then my daughter was born and I wanted a reminder of her when I was not with her. So one day, impulsively I walked into a shop called Electric Anvil and got my first tattoo, A simple ruby to represent my daughter Ruby. I did not want anything too big because it was my first and I figured go easy on the first one. It’s a simple representation of her. I really like how it turned out. The artist knocked it out of the park At this point I was not really planning on any more unless Dara and I had a second child.

• Second Tattoo: “Good Job!”

• Tattoo Artist

• Pain Level: 8 - (The inner arm is not a pleasant place to be tattooed)

After we had our second daughter, Nava, I was not sure what tattoo I would get. Whereas I got the ruby a year after she was born, Nava’s tribute took a bit. I thought about getting three little birds after the Marley song that we used to sing to her in the womb but I could not find a design of something I liked and I am not about to get a tattoo that doesn’t have any meaning behind it.

Then, Nava spoke her first words and inspiration hit. Of course having two parents as educators she would hear these words ad-finitum so what better than a comic speech bubble. The inside arm is a tender spot and it hurt quite a bit, but I figured one arm for Ruby and the other for Nava so I could hug with them in mind.

Now, I know you are thinking what about your Mom? Everytime, I saw her I wore long sleeve shirt or if during the summer I wore shirts with quarter sleeves which go to my elbow. I am glad my Mom never caught on that I always wore the same shirt when I saw her! My wife, once said, “Why don’t you show her?” My response, “Hell no! I am afraid of her being upset at me if she ever saw these two” So quarter sleeves it was for the time being!

• Third Tattoo: Narwhal

• Tattoo Artist: Vladimir Bydin

• Pain Level: 7 (my first big tattoo..I gripped the massage table pretty tight on this one a few times because of the amazing detail Voya did)

My third tattoo was the first one I put some thought into and went searching for artists. What I did was follow artists on instagram to see their different styles of work and when I saw Voya I knew that I found the right artist. I wanted a narwhal (Dara’s favorite animal, the unicorn of the sea) to look like it was a carved block painting. Man, he knocked it out of the park. At this point, I did not think I would get anymore tattoos unless something significant happened. Plus, at this point there was not much space left in my upper arms to have the ability to hide from my mother!

• Fourth Tattoo: Hamsa

• Tattoo Artist: Matt Black

• Pain Level: 8

Then sadly my mother succumbed to cancer and I knew I had to find a way to honor her besides by my actions and who I was as a person. I know there is an irony to get a tribute tattoo to someone who absolutely opposed them and who I was afraid of finding out I had one let alone four!

A hamsa, also known as the Hand of Fatima or the Hand of Miriam, is a palm-shaped amulet popular in Jewish and Muslim cultures. It's believed to provide defense against the evil eye and bring goodness, abundance, fertility, luck, and strength. Often featuring an eye in the center, the hamsa can be displayed in homes, worn as jewelry, or incorporated into art as a symbol of protection and blessings.

When I first moved to New York, my Mom bought be a hamsa necklace to help keep me safe. With this tattoo I can always feel like my Mom is protecting me and keeping me safe. Guiding me through all of my struggles that I am dealing with.

This tattoo had me meeting up with Matt, the artist to talk about what I wanted and how we could achieve what I wanted to have done. This tattoo took the longest I have ever gotten and it’s worth every penny.

• Fifth Tattoo: Moose

• Tattoo Artist Alisa Bugashova

• Pain Level: 4

This one has a funny story. The first time Dara and I ever traveled to Maine, there were a ton of “Moose crossing” signs. I commented, “ooh, maybe I’ll see a moose!” Dara responded (slightly disgusted/ shocked) “You’ve NEVER seen a moose before?” I came from New Jersey, it’s not like I would see them everyday! So for the rest of the trip it was a funny running joke. Thirteen years later, it’s still pretty funny and now I can say I see a moose every day!

• Sixth Tattoo: Little People

• Tattoo Artist Luca Font

• Pain Level:5

This is one of my favorite bands, Sunny Day Real Estate, and they incorporated the Fisher Price little people toy into their video and since I grew up with these toys. It had a very special place in my heart. When I saw Luca’s art work and style I knew it would be a perfect match. A tribute to childhood memories and one of my favorite bands.

• Seventh tattoo: Death Star

• Tattoo Artist Anna Rawr

• Pain Level: 2

I love Star Wars, Anna had May 4th specials and I could not resist this.

• Eighth Tattoo: Lowly Worm

• Tattoo Artist Alisa Bugashova

• Pain Level:5

I loved Alisa’s moose wanted an excuse to work with her again. I gave her a challenge with Richard Scarry’s Lowly worm and she gave me one of my favorite tattoo’s that I have.

• Ninth Tattoo: Eugene w/cat

• Tattoo Artist Alisa Bugashova

• Pain Level: 6

This is my third Alisa Tattoo and I got her signature ‘Eugene’. I love my ‘Eugene’ tattoo and I have it resembling me. Reading a book/comic, coffee ready for drink and a cat hanging out with me. After my health issues, I really wanted to have the ability to express my self and I think I have done so with this one. I highly recommend Alisa and hope to have another tattoo with her real soon

• Tenth Tattoo: New Jersey

• Tattoo Artist: Tron

• Pain Level: 6

My Dad moved from New Jersey to Florida back in October (future post) and besides the many emotions of leaving the house I grew up in I felt like the New Jersey part of me had dissapeared. Just a little piece of NJ to keep with me. It will always have a special place in my Heart. The flower is New Jersey’s state flower, the Common Blue Violet . I’m glad I got Tron to do this as I had been wanting to get a tattoo from them since I met them (plus this way I can apologize for all the cybertruck memes).

That’s it all of my tattoos for now. I’m going to definitely get more at some point but I’m sticking to my arms for now. Who knows what the future will bring or inspire to me. Thanks for all the amazing artists who have given me exactly what I wanted. I could not be any happier with all of them.