Hokay...so I guess we also need an explanation, yes? The initials in the very first pic are J.A.M., which are my son's initials. I chose to put those in the center of the cross on the shield.
The sword, shield and angel wings represent the Guardian Angel. I've told my boy's mom many times that he is a guardian angel for her family. I came to the realization that he is just as much my guardian angel as I am his.
The two sets of initials on the cross on my chest stand for my biological father and for my Dad.
My biological father, the J.R.M set of initials, passed away when I was only 15 months old. I spent nearly my entire life looking for clues about the person he was and tried early on to follow in his footsteps.
My Dad (I have NEVER referred to him as my step-dad), the D.R.M. set of initials, passed away in 2008. He was every bit a father to me as my biological father...and he taught me everything I know about being a man and being a Dad. Almost
anyone can be a father...but it takes a special kind of person to be a DAD. Everything I know about being a man I learned from him...and everything I know about being a provider and a protector comes from him.
I got the cross with their initials on my chest as a way of honoring their memory. If you look in the center of the cross, you'll see that the space is blank. My mother's initials will go there when, knock on wood and a fervently offered prayer that it's a loooong time from now, it's her time to join them.
So there you have the story of the tats and the reason I got them. They are all a huge part of my life...so much, perhaps, that they ARE my life.
paul