Something I have been wanting to do for a long time, especially since I had my top surgery is to get my frogs covered. When I got these frogs, they were meaningful to me. The black frog came from the cover of a Ranger Rick magazine that I had carried around for years until I could afford to get it tattooed on. I went to a reputable shop, but the artist did a rather terrible job in rendering the frog including just leaving off several toes that were hidden behind a leaf that he didn't include in the tattoo, and that I eventually tattooed on myself as best I could during my short tenure as a tattooist. According to Jamie Sams' Medicine Cards, "Frog sings the songs that bring the rains that cleanse the world" or "brings the tears that cleanse the soul." I loved that message. I think I loved it more when I wasn't able to cry. It's not the message I want to carry over my heart anymore. These days I want my heart covered in protection, and in fierceness.
The black frog is also a cover up of my first professional tattoo, a tattoo that happened to be a matching tattoo of the one my ex got. It being a rather dysfunctional relationship it felt important to cover it, and when I covered it, it felt like a tendril that had been connecting us was severed. Conversely, years later when we were on friendly terms I visited her and she hooked me up with her tattooist friend who did the other frog.
I had a consult scheduled today about finally getting these tattoos covered. I was filled with joy at the prospect of the coverup, and what I realized is that covering them up is a part of my gender-affirming care. Yes, the images no longer fit where I am, but also the placement and size were all about working around breasts. These are remnants of chest that no longer serves me. In so many ways these tattoos no longer fit me. I am long past ready for them to be gone.
Unfortunately, I learned at my consultation what I had feared: they will need laser treatment to be adequately covered. Yeah, I could try another artist, but I've done the cover up thing before, and I have old tattoos poking out from the sides, or under. My chest is important to me, and I need to do it write. So, I'm disappointed. I felt like I was almost at the finish line, but now I have to run another race before I get back on track, but I know in the long run I will be happier if I go through the laser process first. Anyone know how I go about making money by selling pictures of my feet or some other low effort means of making extra cash?
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