And kid you better get the picture.

My first tattoo!  I designed it myself, a sort of stylized outline of the state of Iowa with a heart in the northeast corner—right over Decorah.  Why Decorah/Iowa, you ask?  (You and everyone else… :-P)  Well, frankly, I love Decorah.  So many great memories, experiences and milestones in my life have occured here.  And so many of the people who are important to me now are connected to Decorah in some way.  Also, I know that I’m not going to be in Decorah forever, so I wanted a way to take a little piece with me.

Another great thing about this tattoo… My best friend (the infamous Paul) and I went and got our first tattoos together.  While we didn’t get matching tattoos (though it is a dream of mine to have matching tattoos with close friends and/or my sisters), we did both get tattoos that represented places and experiences that are important to us.  He got crossed sabers (a cavalry symbol) to commemorate his 8 years in the Army, while mine represents my 7 years living in Decorah.  I had such a great time and to share the experience with my best friend (whom I met in Decorah!) is something I will never forget.  Obviously.  Because tattoos are permanent.