I moved from Wisconsin to Virginia when I was 22 years old. I was always nervous about the day one of my parents’ health would decline while being so far away from them. I never imagined I would be faced with that reality at the young age of 28. My dad was only 57 when he passed away unexpectedly from glioblastoma and leptomeningeal metastasis.
I knew getting a tattoo to memorialize him was a necessity for me. I chose pole beans because I have countless memories of picking beans with my dad in his garden. His two favorite items in his garden were the raspberry bushes and the pole beans, which he grew along the fencing of our pool.
Some of my favorite memories with my dad are of the sunny summer days helping him pick beans and then jumping in the pool when we got too hot. He was always such a goofball when it came to his pole beans. We’d snap them, blanch them, and freeze them to enjoy them during the cold winters. We would also toss the ends to the dogs as a little treat.
Growing up, my dad always called me “Little One.” He called me little one all the time, even as an adult. Anytime we would talk on the phone, he would always answer, “Hey, Little One.” What I wouldn’t give to hear it just one more time.
My dad’s disease progression went brutally fast. Within weeks, his vision became doubled and blurred, and his hearing declined as well. I knew I wanted a tattoo to memorialize him, and I needed to have “Little One” in his handwriting. A few days before he couldn’t write anymore, I had him scribble out, “Hey Little One” on a scrap piece of paper.
My tattoo is a daily reminder that my dad is with me every step of the way. Having it placed on my right forearm allows me to see it constantly throughout the day. On the hard days, I find it extremely helpful to be able to look down and see my dad’s handwriting and be reminded of such fond memories.
Tattoo Tip: Pick something that makes you happy, even if it doesn’t make sense to others. It’s not for anyone else but you. People often ask me why green beans, and I can’t tell you the joy I get when I get to share the beautiful memory and piece of my dad’s soul with the world.
