Arabic Tattoo Book
Today I got the final edit of the write up of the article that is going to go beside the picture of my newest tattoo. I wrote up about 4 pages and they had to reduce it to about 4 paragraphs. I was pretty happy with what they wrote but I did make some changes and sent it back to them and they agreed to the changes that I made and I wanted to share with you the following article that tells the story of why I got this tattoo.
"The tattoo is of my husband’s name. His name is Jemaleddin, meaning “the beauty of god,” but I call him Jemal for short, and so the tattoo reads ‘Jemal’ not ‘Jemaleddin.’Jemaleddin is an Arabic name. His mother chose it from a book she read in high school with the main characters’ names being Jemaleddin, Sasha, and David. So that is his name: Jemaleddin Sasha David.
I knew that I wanted to have his name on my arm, so on our 8th wedding anniversary we slipped out of the hotel we were staying in and went to look for a tattoo shop. We found the only one in our area opened at 11 am, and I brought with me a computer print out of the Arabic style I wanted. The tattoo artist, Ronnie Lanahan Jr., at Art with a Pulse in Glen Burnie Maryland, did a great job at making the experience memorable. We listened to Sublime for the whole hour it took to finish the tattoo.
Getting a tattoo of a significant other’s name is a great way to show that you have faith in your relationship. It shows that that person means something to you whether you stay together or not. I know that no matter what may happen to us in the future I will still be proud to have his name on my arm. He is a wonderful husband and father and no matter what happens I will always have love for him.
I had intended to wait until our 10th anniversary, but I realized that if we have gone through as much as we have and stayed together, then we are going to make it through anything. Even if the worst possible thing were to happen I am sure that we would stay the best of friends and I would still be proud of the tattoo.
Every time someone compliments my tattoo I tell that person about my husband and why he is so good to me. I had been in some abusive relationships in the past and then he came along and gave me worth; he deserves to have his name on my arm. He is a good person and loving person. He has gone through a lot to keep our family together, and he continues to do all that he can to hold it together and has never complained about it.
--Kellie
"
I am so happy about this because 1) this is one of the most special things that has even happened to me besides having my children and marrying the greatest man in the world. 2) This is something that will share with generations just how I feel with my husband. 3) Even after I am gone this will still last, being even more permanent then the tattoo itself.
The book is going to be released in June. I will be getting a copy of the book for my participation in the book. I really didn't feel the need to get paid because I felt like it was something special to be a part of. The whole book is a collection of Arabic tattoos only.
It was really kind of by luck that I got in the book. It was only a week after I posted the photo of the tattoo on Flickr and that is how the publisher found me. He emailed me and asked me to send him more photos.
I am planning on sending out a copy of the page that this article is on to all of my friends and family once I get a copy of the book. I want to share it with everyone. I am just so excited about being in this book. I will let you all know when the book comes out so that you can go and buy a copy for yourself.