This is No Fairy Tale
Friday, August 20, 2010
Once upon a time in a land far away a Prince and a Princess vacationed on a magical isle. *insert sound effects* SQUEALING tires, sudden stop, Prince and Princess thrown through windshield. Diva doesn't do fairy tales.
It was a few years ago and we were in Hawaii, but we're certainly no Prince and Princess. We were tired, bedraggled parents trying to escape raising 8 kids, running a business and paying a mortgage.
We had been there several times before and each time a certain someone wanted to get a tattoo. I did get one, but not every time I was there.
So the story continues, stay with me here as there will be a quiz.
You know about Isaiah dying, what you don't know is that his "theme" was frogs. Yeah, yeah, yeah I'll get on with it.
We went to the guy that has done lots of work for us. Jeff looked through the books of Chinese characters and found the one shown for frog. Dominick, who is awesome by the way (and now owns a shop in Portland!), put the stencil on Jeff's leg and proceeded to tattoo the character on Jeff's right calf.
When we got home everyone asked what the symbol was and Jeff proudly told the story of Isaiah and the frog memorial.
It just so happens that we were building a home for a Chinese family that owns a string of restaurants here in Oregon. I say home, it was more like a castle! But this is no fairytale, so no castle, just a 15,000 sq foot home for 5 people. Must be nice.
The elderly father came by to check the progress one day and noticed Jeff's tattoo. In broken English he asked what it was and why he had that particular character.
Jeff told him the story of Isaiah and the frogs we all collected now. He said it was a memorial tattoo for our grandson.
Mr. Chang: "Oh that no frog."
Jeff: "What?!"
"Oh, that NO frog."
"May I ask what it is?"
The old man took a piece of paper and quickly drew the character for frog.
 |
| Frog |
 |
| Clam |
36 comments:
I have heard that getting something other than what one wanted is commonplace. Well, of course, that's true of life itself, but I had reference to tattoos in Chinese script.
OMG! When my son went to get a chinese symbol the first thing I did was ran it by a chinese friend to be certain it really meant what he thought it did!!
Yes, well my husband is much too trusting and much too impatient. At least it's clam, it could have been much worse!
That is funny.... I am sure it is not for him. Will it stay or will he get removed?
We're working on a design for a cover up now.
Trying to fight the laughter because I know that isn't really funny, but at the same time you hear people warn about that all the time!
I hope you come up with a cool cover-up. Wow.
Clams are uh...
I was going to say cool, but they're not. They're just not.
Too funny! I always wondered that about the symbols, that they could really mean anything!
Poor Jeff!! He should have that guy verify a design before putting it to ink next time! LOL!! Oh the lessons we learn... (((HUGS)))
I don't mean to laugh but... hahahahaha!!!!! I'm so sorry that happened! Are you going to tell the guy who tattooed him? And is Jeff going to get another tattoo with the correct symbol?
I love the idea of Isiah and the frog. It is really touching!
Yes, it could have been much worse than clam! But a creature with at least a FEW limbs would be nice!
That is my worst nightmare come true! Although they say that most people who have Chinese symbols probably don't have what they think they have. Can't wait to see how he covers it up. ;-)
Waiting on hearing some news...
omg. can he get it fixed. that is just so wrong. before I got my last tattoo I wanted to do my husbands name, but the girls at the pedicure place told me not to do it. That they always "say" they are doing it right, but they don't. that makes me so mad
I would leave it. Someone in heaven has a sense of humor and you should smile every time you see it.
Hey, if you believe it's a frog, then it's a frog! LOL!
It is the thought that counts. Plus, I don't think most people would know unless they are chinese.
That is the very reason if I ever get brave enough to get a tattoo it will be in English.
Oh sadness! Good thing it was only clam though!
bwhahahahahahaahhahaha
BWahahahahhahahahahahahahahha
Damn! Now I'm gonna have to take my daughter to a Chinese restaraunt to get her tatooes translated!
Wow I have heard of having clammy hands but not a clammy calf! Honestly it is a great story so leave it and just go get the Frog on the other calf. They look similar but only better, because you now have a good yarn to tell over drinks! W.C.C.
This would be on a par of going to get "Teri" tattooed on his chest, and having "Tara" instead! But hey, we are Americans! We can symbolize anything we want to, any way we want to. And only we would know we are remembering all the clams that have gone on before!
You guys rock. I think I have the best followers ever!
Like I told someone in an email just now, it could have said "Stupid American thinks this means frog"
D'oh!! Back before I got tattoo #1 (I'm closin' in on 20) I was told to never get Chinese writing because there's so many different variations that mean different things.
Came here through Gucci Mama... Love your site... 8 kids... wow!
Hm. Um . . . I hope he likes clams.
at least it wasnt bearded clam
next time hes going to check out the translation right?
I know I shouldn't be laughing but that sounds like something that would happen to me!!! I'd be jealous you're headed to Sisters, but my bridesmaids and I are at my bachelorette party right now and they took me to Sunriver! The weather isn't great, but I love this area (Sisters/Redmond/Bend) of Oregon. Plus we have a hot tub and tons of booze, so we're set.
That is just terrible......I have heard about that happening to a lot of people though......I hope you guys come up with great new "cover up".
I am enjoying reading through your blog.
Well....that just sucks.
Good thing you all have a good sense of humor. 'Cause clams are, well, they're CLAMS.
Thank goodness for a filthy rich Chinese man setting you straight. Maybe he'll pay for the cover up tattoo. hehe
Well, I hope HE can laugh about it, now! LOL!! I'm looking forward to seeing the updated TAT!! ;p
I have an award for you on my Saturday post. ;D
It could've been worse. So sorry that happened.
Is he going bck to get the right one?
It could've been worse. So sorry that happened.
Is he going bck to get the right one?
He's actually planning a full calf coverup.....I call it a sock. lol
So what you're saying is - he's not as happy as a clam?
And exactly how happy IS a clam? And how would one KNOW how happy a clam is? Have we EVER seen on smile? Just wondering.....
This speaks to every fear I have about tattoos!!
That is one of the reasons why I stay away from foreign characters.
Maybe you can actually ride on with a clam legend... the clam that bore the Pearl of lao Tzu or the Pearl of Allah. It still is a good story to tell.;)
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