At 66 Catherine Gigante-Brown reveals the stories behind her ink, and why the latest design will likely be her final one. PLUS: An open thread where you can share about what prompted you to get inked.
Catherine - I never got the “why” of tattoos. Your beautiful essay - I finally got it and it changes my entire perspective. And, the artistry of SBH - lump in my throat. Those stars!!!
What a moving story and a beautiful example of the meanings that a tattoo can hold. I’m 56 and got my first tattoo last spring: a bunch of knobbly heirloom tomatoes on a vine down my left arm, shoulder to elbow, showing the tomato flowers and the leaves too, like a botanical illustration, drawn in black lines, no color. There’s a little caterpillar hidden in there, too. I am a foodie and farmer’s market regular, a tomato lover, but the tattoo also connects me to childhood memories of my grandfather’s big, abundant vegetable garden. I also love that late summer, my favorite part of the year, when the tomatoes are in, is always with me, now.
I got my first (and probably only) tattoo when I was 58. I had fantasized about getting a tattoo since I was an adolescent. One of the women who cut my hair had a small butterfly on her shoulder and I always thought that if I got one, it would be like hers.
When my twin daughters turned 18, they both got matching tattoos that one of them designed. For some reason, that made me feel the need (or more empowered, perhaps) to get one myself. So I have a small edelweiss on my right shoulder blade (let’s just say The Sound of Music was very big in my household and life). And, three years later, I have no regrets. I absolutely love it.
Mine are 3 dots from the radiologist. 17 years ago and were after I held two new grandchildren at my breast. I could feel the lump and I could look into their eyes and I asked my Higher Power to see them grow up. It has not been the idealistic way I wanted but they are both on a college tour in Atlanta GA this weekend.
Oh Rhea. Thank you for sharing that poignant moment For Fran it was in advance of full body radiation for a Bone Marrow Transplant. Breast cancer came years later. It all sucks. The idealistic way never happens and I hate the “journey” metaphor but I’m so glad that you are all doing so well. All the best—IE
I change my mind too often to be able to commit to a permanent tattoo, and there's the cost and the pain too. But I love a temporary one and am a devoted fan of those. Lately I am enjoying tiny tattoos by Inked but I definitely recommend Conscious Ink where you can even have them design and print custom temporary tattoos. Once they wash away I am ready for a new message or placement :)
I got my first tattoo at 40 - and 30 years later, I'm all in! It's true that you either get it (which I did, big time!) or you don't. I have ink on the outside of both calves; on both arms from shoulder to wrist (that much, and there's even a name for it: "sleeves"); and a back piece dedicated to the four-legged love of my life, my soulpuppy, Kona. Every piece has meaning for me and a story behind it. I worked in the public sector for many years, and I had to wear long sleeves and pants to cover them up. (I did this, not because I was asked to, but out of respect to others. Like I said, not everyone gets it.) That said, I've had several hilarious encounters with people because of my ink, and I've never regretted a single one.
I am Cathy Gigante-Brown's cousin. My sweetheart, Mike Pulley is one of Cath 's cousins.I am 65 years old and I have 7 tattoos. 2 of them represent my 2 daughters and their husbands. One was a breast cancer ribbon with my mom's and 2 sisters (one from another mother) initials.. Only the initials remain on that one because it has faded. One is a copper start in honor of my friend Sue. One is a barbed wire cross which represents the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me.
Pepe le Pew and Penelope are on one of my hips. My favorite is one I designed. It is the head of a bird that has the word Free in front of it (Freebird) . It has birds that spiral.off of it that go down my shoulder.
I know that all.of these tattoos will droop and distort with age. But I am glad that I have them. My dear Cathy is one of the bravest people know. She ranks right up there with my sisters and my mom. My mom and oldest sister survived breast cancer but are no longer with us now. My sister, Susie has survived stage 4 ovarian cancer by the grace of God.
Thank you for sharing your story Cathy. I love you!
I got my first tattoo on the inside of my left ankle (1995) - a crescent moon and openwork star -to celebrate my escape from an abusive marriage. My second one was a bear-paw print on my upper left breast - about where your fingertips land when you salute the flag. That one celebrated my leaving a cheating ex and moving across the US to Seattle for a dream job. (1999)
Third is a bare-branched tree with infinity knot roots that I got to celebrate surviving endometrial cancer and a health diagnosis that ended my career, my second marriage, and several dreams. But once I had my feet under me in the mountains of western NC - I got the roots/knot one. (2014)
I've got the artwork for one more - and it's going to be my 63rd birthday gift to myself - a raven in flight across a triskele knot.
Looking at them, like you Catherine, reminds me of moments of strength, beauty, and that I've made it this far with more than a few successes.
I felt this piece all the way down to my roots. Savor every sip, dear one. Every freakin' sip.
I really loved this article, it’s made me wanna another tattoo.
When I was 59, a couple of yrs ago I decided to plan a tattoo for my 60th, so far so normal. Liking to think of myself as a bit arty, I thought I’d go down the beautiful Dutch Genre momento mori route. Exquisite flowers, some fading & wilting, gemlike beetles nibbling at the edges, little signs of death & decay amongst the splendid beauty to remind me of time passing, don’t waste what’s left etc, etc, all very high minded, very serious & very tasteful. A lot of mulling over followed. There was a lot of to get right. I booked the tattooist, I booked the date, on my birthday naturally enough.
The night before, I changed my mind & told no one. 35 years earlier, being young & broke I went to a little exhibition with my boyfriend. He lent me £20 to buy a picture that we’d happily argue over in the following decades about who would get it if we divorced. The picture was of a cat with an expression that defies description. Anyway, we’d rush to save it if a house fire broke out. I realised that was what I had to have inked on my skin. A cartoon cat with a devious expression. I’ve not regretted it for a nano second & my husband’s face when he saw it was show stopping. Oh & just as a little coda to the story, we found out some time after buying the picture, that it was a group exhibition of work made by prisoners. The cat’s expression suddenly made complete sense.
And, of course we now have a equatable solution if this marriage of 30 plus years doesn’t work out. We live in hope. 😁
I like the thought of your devious cat. Your Dutch momento mori reference reminded me of a woman I was on a BC retreat with. When she was diagnosed as metastatic, she had "Hold Fast" (Hald Vast) in Dutch tattooed on her knuckles. It's a sailing term meaning hold on for dear life.
Beautiful, Catherine...and the cherry blossoms, what a fabulous alternative! I have but one tatt, a simple Japanese-style outline of a cat on my left rear shoulder done in '80s at the San Francisco studio, Lyle Tuttle, that inked Janis Joplin. My then-boyfriend said to get it there because it would hold up well. A son just got an American trad heart + flowers with a "MOM" banner, topped with a robin (State bird of my birthplace); I melted. Wishing you days of peace and comfort in the blue house on your body and on your land.
This is great. I love your tattoos too!
I love the reasoning behind your tattoo.
I love these stories. Thankyou for sharing them!
<3
Thank you, Kira. 60 is a very good time to commemorate 6 decades on the planet with some ink.
Catherine - I never got the “why” of tattoos. Your beautiful essay - I finally got it and it changes my entire perspective. And, the artistry of SBH - lump in my throat. Those stars!!!
I love that this opened your mind, Jane!
Thank you so much, Jane. I'm so glad my piece touched you. And yes, those stars!
What a moving story and a beautiful example of the meanings that a tattoo can hold. I’m 56 and got my first tattoo last spring: a bunch of knobbly heirloom tomatoes on a vine down my left arm, shoulder to elbow, showing the tomato flowers and the leaves too, like a botanical illustration, drawn in black lines, no color. There’s a little caterpillar hidden in there, too. I am a foodie and farmer’s market regular, a tomato lover, but the tattoo also connects me to childhood memories of my grandfather’s big, abundant vegetable garden. I also love that late summer, my favorite part of the year, when the tomatoes are in, is always with me, now.
What a beautiful, thoughtful tattoo!
This piece is so powerful.
I got my first (and probably only) tattoo when I was 58. I had fantasized about getting a tattoo since I was an adolescent. One of the women who cut my hair had a small butterfly on her shoulder and I always thought that if I got one, it would be like hers.
When my twin daughters turned 18, they both got matching tattoos that one of them designed. For some reason, that made me feel the need (or more empowered, perhaps) to get one myself. So I have a small edelweiss on my right shoulder blade (let’s just say The Sound of Music was very big in my household and life). And, three years later, I have no regrets. I absolutely love it.
Edelweiss!! BTW, my cousin just told me he learned the song is not a traditional Austrian tune. It was written for The Sound of Music. <3
That scene where Christopher Plummer sings Edelweiss always choked me up (I think his voice was actually dubbed, but still)
Still does. Saw the film in the theater recently and it was even more powerful, dubbed or not.
Yes, I saw it at a sing-along screening a couple of years ago, and I cried and sang through the whole thing.
He waited a long time to receive an academy award for another performance 🎭
I don’t think I knew that but I suppose I’m not surprised.
Beautiful song and flower. And yes, I can still sing every song from the SoM.
Me too!
Fran was proud of her “tattoos” — small blue dots on her to guide her radiologist. They lasted 30 years.
Mine are 3 dots from the radiologist. 17 years ago and were after I held two new grandchildren at my breast. I could feel the lump and I could look into their eyes and I asked my Higher Power to see them grow up. It has not been the idealistic way I wanted but they are both on a college tour in Atlanta GA this weekend.
Oh Rhea. Thank you for sharing that poignant moment For Fran it was in advance of full body radiation for a Bone Marrow Transplant. Breast cancer came years later. It all sucks. The idealistic way never happens and I hate the “journey” metaphor but I’m so glad that you are all doing so well. All the best—IE
I change my mind too often to be able to commit to a permanent tattoo, and there's the cost and the pain too. But I love a temporary one and am a devoted fan of those. Lately I am enjoying tiny tattoos by Inked but I definitely recommend Conscious Ink where you can even have them design and print custom temporary tattoos. Once they wash away I am ready for a new message or placement :)
Oh, nice! I’ve used temporary tattoos in the run-up to getting inked, to try them on. You can have them custom made.
I did that too - to confirm size/placement.
I love that idea!
That's a great alternative!
Wonderful 💡
I am tattoo-free and intend to remainso, but love Catherine’s ink art and this mournful but celebratory essay.
Thank you, Rona.
I got my first tattoo at 40 - and 30 years later, I'm all in! It's true that you either get it (which I did, big time!) or you don't. I have ink on the outside of both calves; on both arms from shoulder to wrist (that much, and there's even a name for it: "sleeves"); and a back piece dedicated to the four-legged love of my life, my soulpuppy, Kona. Every piece has meaning for me and a story behind it. I worked in the public sector for many years, and I had to wear long sleeves and pants to cover them up. (I did this, not because I was asked to, but out of respect to others. Like I said, not everyone gets it.) That said, I've had several hilarious encounters with people because of my ink, and I've never regretted a single one.
Wonderful! Shoutout to the Ray Bradbury book...we're Illustrated Humans.
I love this. Thanks for sharing!
I am Cathy Gigante-Brown's cousin. My sweetheart, Mike Pulley is one of Cath 's cousins.I am 65 years old and I have 7 tattoos. 2 of them represent my 2 daughters and their husbands. One was a breast cancer ribbon with my mom's and 2 sisters (one from another mother) initials.. Only the initials remain on that one because it has faded. One is a copper start in honor of my friend Sue. One is a barbed wire cross which represents the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me.
Pepe le Pew and Penelope are on one of my hips. My favorite is one I designed. It is the head of a bird that has the word Free in front of it (Freebird) . It has birds that spiral.off of it that go down my shoulder.
I know that all.of these tattoos will droop and distort with age. But I am glad that I have them. My dear Cathy is one of the bravest people know. She ranks right up there with my sisters and my mom. My mom and oldest sister survived breast cancer but are no longer with us now. My sister, Susie has survived stage 4 ovarian cancer by the grace of God.
Thank you for sharing your story Cathy. I love you!
Love Lizzie
Thank you my sweet, tattooed goddess cousin!
Love hearing from one of Cathy’s family members, who has many tats! She is wonderful.
She sure is! We love her!
Thanks for sharing a part of your story
Powerful ink. I’m 87 and still a virgin? I’m thinking E.M.’s “only connect”. But where?
The hipbone is connected to the kneebone!
That’s one kind of connection. And here I was thinking of my forehead. Too much in my head. Better still, over my heart.
Thanks🫶
That would be a good one.
I got my first tattoo on the inside of my left ankle (1995) - a crescent moon and openwork star -to celebrate my escape from an abusive marriage. My second one was a bear-paw print on my upper left breast - about where your fingertips land when you salute the flag. That one celebrated my leaving a cheating ex and moving across the US to Seattle for a dream job. (1999)
Third is a bare-branched tree with infinity knot roots that I got to celebrate surviving endometrial cancer and a health diagnosis that ended my career, my second marriage, and several dreams. But once I had my feet under me in the mountains of western NC - I got the roots/knot one. (2014)
I've got the artwork for one more - and it's going to be my 63rd birthday gift to myself - a raven in flight across a triskele knot.
Looking at them, like you Catherine, reminds me of moments of strength, beauty, and that I've made it this far with more than a few successes.
I felt this piece all the way down to my roots. Savor every sip, dear one. Every freakin' sip.
Thank you, TK, here's to us! Still standing, despite it all...
Hellsyes!
I really loved this article, it’s made me wanna another tattoo.
When I was 59, a couple of yrs ago I decided to plan a tattoo for my 60th, so far so normal. Liking to think of myself as a bit arty, I thought I’d go down the beautiful Dutch Genre momento mori route. Exquisite flowers, some fading & wilting, gemlike beetles nibbling at the edges, little signs of death & decay amongst the splendid beauty to remind me of time passing, don’t waste what’s left etc, etc, all very high minded, very serious & very tasteful. A lot of mulling over followed. There was a lot of to get right. I booked the tattooist, I booked the date, on my birthday naturally enough.
The night before, I changed my mind & told no one. 35 years earlier, being young & broke I went to a little exhibition with my boyfriend. He lent me £20 to buy a picture that we’d happily argue over in the following decades about who would get it if we divorced. The picture was of a cat with an expression that defies description. Anyway, we’d rush to save it if a house fire broke out. I realised that was what I had to have inked on my skin. A cartoon cat with a devious expression. I’ve not regretted it for a nano second & my husband’s face when he saw it was show stopping. Oh & just as a little coda to the story, we found out some time after buying the picture, that it was a group exhibition of work made by prisoners. The cat’s expression suddenly made complete sense.
And, of course we now have a equatable solution if this marriage of 30 plus years doesn’t work out. We live in hope. 😁
I like the thought of your devious cat. Your Dutch momento mori reference reminded me of a woman I was on a BC retreat with. When she was diagnosed as metastatic, she had "Hold Fast" (Hald Vast) in Dutch tattooed on her knuckles. It's a sailing term meaning hold on for dear life.
Beautiful, Catherine...and the cherry blossoms, what a fabulous alternative! I have but one tatt, a simple Japanese-style outline of a cat on my left rear shoulder done in '80s at the San Francisco studio, Lyle Tuttle, that inked Janis Joplin. My then-boyfriend said to get it there because it would hold up well. A son just got an American trad heart + flowers with a "MOM" banner, topped with a robin (State bird of my birthplace); I melted. Wishing you days of peace and comfort in the blue house on your body and on your land.