White Ink January 29 2020

I’ve been waiting to write this story and show this tattoo. I think now is a better time than ever while we’ve all been in shock about the news about Kobe. Much like Kobe these three men I carry with me daily left this world entirely too soon. With so much to give, we might never know why but it’s how we carry on their legacy. It’s how we tell their story and how great they were while they were on Earth. Because the *lord knows the plans he has for us, although they might not make sense to us now. We have to trust in him.

*Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I Know The Plans I Have For You' Declares the Lord, 'Plans to Prosper You and Not to Harm You, Plans to Give You Hope and a Future.*

This white ink tattoo is written in my mommas handwriting and here is the description of it: 

174 is for Justin Sollohub (27) he was a police officer in Anniston a friend of mine and one of my fraternity brothers in college. He was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. 174 was his badge number.

507 is for Tyler Bojo (20) he was also a friend and college fraternity brother. He passed away from an accidental gunshot wound.  He grew up riding dirt bikes and his number was 507 due to his birthday being May 7th

305 is for my uncle Kevin Blue(51). He passed more recently last October from  glioblastoma which is a rare form of cancer forming tumors in the brain.

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay his life down for friends”

I got this tattoo for my birthday this past November. I waited to post on here because I wanted to wait until it had “healed”. These three numbers mean a lot to me and those of you who are close to me know that I see them all over the place, every single day. I wanted to show the different stages of this healing process because much like the impact these 3 men left on me it took time to heal. This tattoo is a symbol to me that even though my wrist will never look the same because it is now ink to a story that lives with me, it’s smoothed over now on the surface but we still walk this earth with it so much deeper than the eye can see. It’s a reminder that life is short, it’s a reminder to tell that person you’re thinking about that you love them, that you’re sorry, whatever it is. It’s a reminder to live each day like it’s your last. 

I live a full life. I don’t say no to doing many things because what good story comes from sitting at home? When I’m gone I want to think I did this life thing right. I want everyone to know the impact they had on me, whether it be big or small. We miss a lot of opportunities to tell people stuff like this. I luckily got to Tyler how much he meant to me and how much potential he had about a week before he was gone. I do a terrible job at continuing to keep up with his family because life and work get in the way. That’s a terrible excuse because I know should do better.  

I live with plenty of regret knowing the things I know now. I didn’t spend as much time as I wish I could with some. I didn’t answer or make phone calls and texts like I probably should. All that’s in the past though and what we have now is the present. Do something about it instead of procrastinating. I can go on and on about all of this and if you want to talk about it just reach out to me. Don’t be shy!

KC