So I call myself trying to get into long boarding at the age of 28. I have never done it before, and I figure, it’s something to learn for the next summer in Chi-Town. I didn’t have the money to buy it new, so when a post came up on the Chicago Queer Exchange, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity! After a few days of being stuck in this conflicting yet revealing experience known as retrograde (woof), I needed something to look forward to. Interesting enough, and fitting for retrograde altogether, I got so much more than I expected. So I meet Ari, this really chill Trans man from Chicagoland who’d been living in the city for years! Great people, and the board was sick as fuck. It was a longboard with X-Files Decals. CLUTCH! When we talked more, it turned out that he was really in love with the board, and while we was prepared, I could tell he wasn’t super excited about the idea of selling it. I totally felt that in major ways. I thought about all the times I’ve tried to sell my bike to make money, and how I’m glad I never did, cause of how much it meant to me. That’s what this board meant to Ari, and I related in a major way. That’s when I saw his tattoo setup, and gears started turning. Turns out Ari had only been tattooing for like 7 months, but after I saw the tattoos he put on himself, I was like, “Yo, maybe you can just tattoo me instead! That way you can keep your board, and make some money still! Ari dug it, and so we got to chatting. Turns out the tattoo that had stuck in his head the hardest, was one that I’ve been wanting the longest: I was finally getting my @!^-216 tattoo! For those who may not know, 216 is the area code of Cleveland, Ohio, my hometown. It’s also my fraternity nickname from college. I know, me a fraternity man?! How ironic. XP But when I was in undergrad, all I could talk about was how much I loved my city, and everything it had given to me. Years ago, my area code became my Facebook signature, because I always wanted to remember my home. This year, I’ve been feeling that homesickness in a major way, and I knew that once again, I would not be home for Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter. It kinda bummed me out, cause I miss my family a bunch, and this year I even got close, but for reasons I’m not sure I’m ready to voice consistently, I kinda chickened out. This tattoo, this small self care item, which was literally the cost of the board without the tip, was definitely the way to go. So we set up shop in Ari’s house, put on some Screaming Females, and got to work! Ari was super cool while he was tattooing me. We shared stories about our depression, talked about dismantling white supremacy, pets, and how awful TV has become, and how he first got into stick and poke tattoos before getting his first gun. We talked about how he only wants to do Trans and Queer canvases, and bounced ideas off each other’s heads, and that was all before the ink was even in progress! One of the biggest things we talked about was the fact that these were finger tattoos, and how I was supposed to be screaming like a banshee, but instead I was just having conversation and taking snaps of the process. It’s been like this since I can remember. As it turned out, high pain tolerance for the both of us came with the territory of our trauma. Tattoos were healing for us both, because they brought us back to the real world. It was nice to not have to justify my love for the pain to someone, because it made sense to him too. Both us of being major into kink helped solidify this feeling a bunch! It was amazing to see Ari get into his work. There was a moment where something clicked for him, something that hadn’t yet from what he told me. It was dope to witness that happen as his canvas, and watch him get into a solid groove by the time he was done filling the tattoos in. I got to see him finesse the edges that he was nervous to touch with larger needles at first, and the look in his eyes when it hit was one I was honored to be a part of. After we finished the tattoos, I began to notice cool things that had popped up inside the design! On my right index and middle finger, there are now three more meanings: 0.I’m a twin, and both our names begin with V. My twin brother got his V tattoo, and I always told him I’d get mine next! Well as it turns out the ^symbol that I use on my signature gave me my V tattoo when it reads upside down! 0.I’m the 6th child out of my mother’s children, and the 6 of us had been joking about getting Roman numerals tattooed on us for what number we represented. Being the last two children meant that my twin brother now had his V tattoo, and because the exclamation point reads upside down like a lowercase I, I now had my vi tattoo! 0.During a family picnic one year, me and my twin stood back to back to take a picture. Without thinking, I threw up the deuces, and he threw up the middle finger. We repeat this photo whenever we can, and next time, I’ll be able to throw deuces with my triple meaning tattoos, symbolizing my relationship with my twin brother, and my birth as my mother’s 6th child. And to think, all I was gonna do was pick up the board, pay some cash, maybe not have the spoons to ride, and not have all these amazing memories to keep! Now I can keep my city with me, and once again, I can keep my family with me. I’m super grateful to Ari, and how quick he jumped in to give me these dope pieces of art. Like, dude literally traced off his phone to make it happen. It was dope to be one of his first canvases. If you’re ever on the fence to be tattooed by someone who’s new, I say give it a shot! But if you’re gonna do it, just make sure that you’re with someone who makes you feel comfortable, and really cares about what they’re putting on your body. If you’ve had a tattoo before, you know what I mean, and if you’re getting a new one in Chicago, check out Trans and Queer artists! I know Ari is one of a few great ones. Peace. @!^-216
