When I got a sizable tattoo a year and a half ago on my 36th birthday, I was pretty sure that would be it for a while.
And then Sepsis happened. And my recovery was filled with struggle and triumph. I wanted to celebrate it and commemorate it with more than the scars remaining from the IV lines in my wrists and thigh.
I considered a new tattoo at the time, but googling “sepsis tattoo” for inspiration only led to articles about people becoming infected with Sepsis after getting a botched tattoo. So I put that idea on hold.
And then the election happened. And, in my rage, I wanted nothing more than to shave my head and tattoo “Nasty Woman” on my arm. But floating those ideas among friends was met with resounding nos. So I thought better of it, and paused.
But when I woke up on the morning of February 8, my new tattoo had been born overnight.
Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had inexplicably silenced Senator Elizabeth Warren when she attempted to read a letter from 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King during the debate to confirm Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
McConnell said, “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”
And persist, she did. As Warren always does. As women always do.
She read the statement from Mrs. King in full on Facebook Live.
Sessions was confirmed, as we all expected, voted straight down the party lines. But, by dawn, a new hashtag was born. A new meme. A new rally cry. And it was perfect.
I didn’t even tell my husband where I was going that afternoon, lest he say something that would make me second-guess this permanent inscription. For the first time, I understood why expectant parents refused to tell people what they planned to name their babies – they didn’t want to hear any naysaying that might dampen their resolution.
I knew I would not be the last to get this inscribed on my skin. I may not have even been the first, as I found a few that day while scrolling Instagram.
But I will have no regrets. Because this is everything I wanted to say. And now my body can say it for me. And I will always be reminded. The immortal words of Satan’s turtle will join me in my grave.
And apparently, my tattoo was picked up by Salon, Bustle, and Racked.