We’re in a bit of a hurry-up-and-wait holding pattern at the moment. There are little odds and ends that need to be taken care of – chest x-ray yesterday, ekg today. standard pre-op requirements – but we’re basically just hanging out waiting for monday, and then the monday after that. While I’m not in a complete panic, I AM finding it pretty hard to focus on much of anything (haven’t been out to the shop since monday). I’ve received a mountain of emails from you all, and I hope you’ll understand if I’m not on top of responding to them individually. They mean the world to me and please keep them coming, but I’m a little distracted.
In the absence of any kind of real update, I’d like to propose a bit of a design challenge. I’m a little freaked out about the idea of ending up with an asshole on my torso. Real vanity left me years ago when I developed an second head of hair surrounding my bellybutton and realized that I’d never really be beautiful without a shirt on, but THIS is a new level entirely! I think it may be time to get all inked up. There are two sort of obvious approaches.. my first thought (best thought) was the literal: I’ll tattoo a very accurate looking large intestine terminating in the new spot, just to clear up any kind of confusion that might result. Then there’s the camouflage approach.. perhaps a big rose bush where the stoma is just one of a whole bunch of roses. You get the idea. My brother suggested a mess of puncture wounds. That’s a little gross.
Please post your ideas! In written form would be fine.. but drawings would be even better! I’ll post them!! (maybe it’s possible to even put them in your comments? anyone know? Megan? oh.. and any tattoo artists out there who want to be involved, I am quite serious about this!)
Thank you thank you for staying tuned. Thank you to all who’ve written. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. This would be a pretty lonely/scary time for me and Hill without family and friends.
UPDATE!!
Kafkaesq on flickr did a little gallery of ideas on top of the “shape of things” photo. I particularly like the tomato! (click on the image to go to his flickr stream and see the rest! thanks, Gene.)
So I decided to furnish you all with a slightly easier shot to work with! Get it here
Here’s the colon idea.
How about Sailor Jerry’s Aloha Monkey? Seems like an appropriate application to me. Best wishes too in these tough times.
Ooh, a tattoo! I’ve long felt that a tattoo is healing, at least mentally so. What it is isn’t important, as long as it’s important to you. A giant monkey wrench, to remind you of the Monkey Wrench Gang. something that reminds you of your favorite movie, book or album… I dunno. You definitely don’t want me to draw anything, though.
Keep staying tough. You’re in our thoughts constantly.
hmm. well not able to insert a photo in the comment box, but you can link to one … i think. this is a test.
Ezra, amazing idea – how about rose + bike! Let me know if you can see this or I’ll email directly.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jacobksamuelson/Randoms#5515297279329838738
P.S. I know I lose some cred by not using flickr
Why not use the head badge from your bikes? A heart might work for a lot of reasons.
Great idea! I’ve always liked the style of Yann, from Montreal…I was thinking gears and cogs and found this image in his gallery: http://img.yourmeatismine.com/image/3989.jpg You can see other views of the tattoo in galerie 1
ok yes. as folks are doing – just put the link (URL) to the image. i tried a image in comments plugin and it didnt work. thanks! megan
Your brother sounds like a real fun guy. How about the juvenille alien from the movie of the same name?
How about simply the word “EXIT”
http://www.instructables.com/image/FRGZHNUFUI0WYNH/LED-exit-sign.jpg
😉
damn. i haven’t kept up with your blog for awhile as i thought it was all shipshape. damn. i’ve been lookin’ at your bikes and totally thought you were cancerfree, man. . .
anyhow.
all good thoughts and positive vibes and all going your (and your lady’s) way.
be thinkin’ specially about ya on monday, dude.
How about making it one of a bunch of bullet holes? It would make you look tough. Seriously though, hang tough. Everyone’s gonna pull for you.
Hmm…I’ve got nada for this…but effing brilliant photo, by the way.
I put a few ideas in a set on flickr; these are mostly just goofs for fun.
I borrowed your “shape of things to come” photo. I hope you don’t mind.
http://flickr.com/gp/gkinnamon/7pK0Kc
Something with a bike wheel or gear?… if you find a good artist s/he will probably be able to draw something that’s better than any link we could post.
Wait, what about the fast boy t-shirt design? With the wheel being the hole? Or something.
I know in the deepest part of me that you are going to live and have a good life. Not the optimistic part, the JUST KNOW part.
I like the tomato plant idea too. And the koi or some other botanical type design. Hill will be looking at this often so it should certainly be a design that appeals to her too. 🙂
Great idea Ezra!
My heart is aching for you Ezra
Holding good thoughts for Monday and beyond…
Love and courage my dearest child
Huge African hug from your old Aunt. xxx
I added a couple more.
http://www.tinyurl.com/fastboyink
I also wanted to add to the chorus of well wishers and supporters.
I have long been a fan of your photostream; thanks for all of the great images. The common thread I find throughout it all is sincerity and generosity of spirit.
I hope everything is going as well as can be.
My first thought was to tattoo a tuba. I can’t draw worth a crap but I’m sure you can picture it. It would be hard not to giggle at a tuba tattoo.
whatever you do, dear Ezra, don’t do this!
i second trevor on the yann recommendation: on top of being a fantastic tattooist, he’s a great human being as well.