The story behind my zombie tattoo.

More often than I would of thought, my zombie tattoo gets a lot of weird stares or odd comments thrown towards me when people see it. I'm sure my family thought I was bat-shit crazy for wanting to get zombies permanently etched into my skin. Lately, since starting my new job, people will lift my sleeve up and admire all of the color and tell me how badass my tattoos are. They've said "why the zombies?" and when I explain the story, they tell me how nice that was, but I'm sure they still secretly think I have issues. I think to fully understand the meaning behind this tattoo, you'd have to have experienced what I did. You would of had to have spent the years 2005-2010 with me. Even when I explain it, I feel like I didn't do justice and that people don't completely get it. I'm fine with that, though.. because I know exactly why I got it and I know how proud I am of it. Though I don't like to pick favorites for tattoos, this has to be my favorite, or.. most meaningful.
In 2005, my Grandmother got sick and passed away. I will never forget that day. I'll never forget the sadness that took over the family, especially my Grandfather. He was heartbroken and devastated. Since her passing, when we went to visit him, he was different. For years, he would say how much he missed her and how he just wanted to be with her again. It broke my heart whenever he said something like that. For awhile, I thought he would take his own life, just for the chance to see her again.
Growing up, besides my older sister, being around my grandparents really helped me see what true love was. I try not to believe that there is only one person destined to be with someone for the rest of their lives, or that we've got soul mates that we're trying to find. To me, it doesn't seem possible. But them two, they were perfect together. Visiting them, I would hear them bicker back and forth, but moments later, they were okay. They weren't mad and they went back to their normal routine. It was nice to see, because honestly, most of my family and their marriages were pretty shitty. They'd bicker and fight all the time. There was a lot of breakups and divorces. It could of made me a terrible person for a relationship, because it was a constant issue, but I really believe my grandparents relationship made me into the big, gushy romantic that I am today. I dream of having a marriage and relationship like they have. I say have, because as non-religious as I am, I believe they're together again.
In 2010, my Grandpa fell and hurt his hip. He was in a rehabilitation center and was starting to do better, but suddenly it all went downhill. He had a heart attack and he had a DNR signed and almost died then. Luckily, he survived and slowly recovered. After that incident, he seemed to want to live again, he would make plans in the hospital about future events he wanted to take part in and it was nice to see him a little filled with life again. Sadly, his health didn't get much better and eventually went downhill.
His organ were failing, and he needed Hospice to take care of him. My parents decided he would stay in the spare bedroom we had and though we knew he would eventually pass, we were able to take care of him for a few weeks before he went. Again, I remember that time like it was yesterday and it was probably the most life-changing, fucked up situation I was ever in. How many people are able to watch their loved ones, day after day slowly decline, every day an organ slowly failing until one day, they were gone. Though, I've experienced death where I was never able to say goodbye or give any last words, I was grateful I was able to talk to him before he passed away. I was able to tell him it was okay to let go and to find Grandma and be with here again.
Well, during this time, my birthday was coming up, and years prior, I was given money to get a tattoo. I knew what I wanted. I E-Mailed my favorite tattoo artist and gave him my ideas and he sent me a sketch. I remember opening the E-Mail and tearing up because it was so much better than I thought. I was pumped to get it done. I think my parents thought I was insane for wanting zombies, but I told everyone the meaning it had to me and they thought it was such a nice, meaningful tattoo.
My tattoo features two zombies, covered in blood, dancing in the moonlight in a graveyard. To me, this tattoo represents my grandparents. They've both passed and they're finally together again. Their love carried on in to the after life. I have never seen two people so much in love and so happy together. I dream of something half as amazing as what my grandparents had. I know in my heart they're together again. I know that their love carried on after their passing and it's still as strong as it was when they were alive.
When I explain this to some people, their response is usually "So... your grandparents are zombies?" - which, I find sort of ignorant, but I brush it off and laugh. I mean, I wanted to show they were dead, but still together and happy. I didn't want to get words or sayings because it would of said too much without me speaking right off the bat. I wanted a picture, something that wasn't as easy to read from a passerby. When people ask me about this tattoo, I get so filled with happiness and I'm so proud of it. I know when I'm 80 and look down, it may be wrinkled and discolored, but it'll remind me of something I was able to witness that made me who I am today.