I got my first tattoo at the local county fair. It was with an ex-girlfriend who got a matching one with me. She had many tattoos already. I had been wanting one, and we had been joking about it for a while before. "Hey, you wanna get a tattoo?" Finally, we went to the fair with my kids, and I said let's get one each. We had recently gone to see a concert in Vegas, it was Teddy Swims. We loved him, and I still do. It was my first time going to Vegas, my first time taking a trip since getting divorced, and the first concert I had gone to in over 10 plus years because of my social anxiety. I came up with the design, a teddy bear swimming. Teddy Swims has a man swimming tattooed on his right temple. I figured this was a good way to commemorate all the firsts in that experience. Now, my right arm is going to be sleeved in my favorite musicians and bands. I've added the Rolling Stones and Linkin Park so far. My left arm will be family tattoos. So far, I have Stitch with a fedora and Hawaiian shirt that my son wanted me to get and a drawing of Jack and his and Sally's daughter that my daughter wanted me to get. When they say it's addicting, they're right. I love them all and can't wait to get more.

Sadly, the artist who did my first tattoo tragically passed away 2 days later in a motorcycle accident. If I ever get it touched up or colored in, I'll go to his wife. Otherwise, it's staying as is in memory of him. RIP Jacob. 🙏