I am not a regular viewer of the show LA Ink, but I have to say that it is one of the few reality TV shows that I love to watch. Who can pass up watching real creativity at work. Tattoo artist Kat Von D is absolutely amazing, so amazing that the price of a portrait piece like the one pictured above can easily start at $1000. If I am ever going to have Kat's art grace my flesh, looks like it will only be in my dreams. I am long overdue for my next piece of body art, and getting a portrait of Miss J., accompanied by a few butterflies fluttering around her, is at the top of my tattoo wishlist.

I got my first and only tattoo 8 years ago, at age 16. After seeing my best friend's zodiac sign written in Chinese characters on her leg, I knew that a tattoo was in my immediate future. Of course my great-grandmother was completely against this idea, until I assured her that what I wanted to permanently mark my body with was something extremely meaningful. Something that would bring me a certain level of peace, my mother's name. At the time, it had been 8 years since my mother had died and I had never really stopped grieving. I longed to have her with me and this would be one way that I could do that. So, my great-grandmother hopped on a bus with me and made the trip outside of our city to Tom's Tattoo. She sat in the waiting area waiting as I was branded with the two Chinese characters that, together, pronounce the name Emma. To the melody of the needle and the stroke of his hand, I told Tom my story.

It has now been 16 years since my mother's death, and although I share her face and I wear her name, I still find myself longing for her. I find myself wishing that she was here to share my life and the life of my daughter with me. If I can not physically have her, then I must keep alive the spiritual connection that I have with her through my daughter. My mother was buried on June 5, 1992 and I gave birth to Miss J. on June 5, 2003. I feel like she was a very special gift from my mother. Placing Miss J"s portrait together with butterflies (which my mother loved) would manifest on my body, the connection that my mother shares with my daughter and the connection that they both share with me.

I will be sure to share the finished product with all of you once I have found a tattoo artist that is as equally skilled at creating portraits as the amazing Kat Von D.