Kyle was fascinated by tattoos, and actually sketched a few of his own designs. When he was a teenager he even drew on himself with permanent marker! As his Mother, I managed to ward of the evils of ink for a while, with the age old “I grew that body and you’re not marking it whilst you’re under my roof!” bluff. But on his 21st birthday he “surprised” me with a tattoo on his left arm that said HERRIOTT (my maiden name) with skulls and flames! At one point he wanted to get a picture of me tattooed onto his shoulder….I managed to convince him, that whilst I was flattered, I didn’t think a picture of his mother on him sent a good message to a potential mate! Kyle was working on “sleeves” and also had tattoos on his knuckles of his hands. We joked that when I turned 50 he would design me a tattoo….he had plans for a whole of back….I was thinking more a discrete little Pisces about 20cent size on my hip…..but neither happened. Whilst I can appreciate the artistic value, I don’t like tattoos. Having said all that…. the day before Kyle’s private viewing at Purslow Funerals Wangara, I went to Lord of the Skins in Joondalup….where I had previously been with Kyle when he got some piercings done. My daughter, Neena, came with me and to the surprise of the Tattoo Artist when he directed his conversation to her she redirected him to me! When I explained what I wanted and why he offered to do it at no charge! So I put my brave girl pants on and went ahead, I felt my son standing next to me as the tattoo gun started. When I saw Kyle the next day I showed him, and said “Well you finally got your mother inked…..just for you Kyle!”  I never thought I would get a tattoo, but then I never thought I would loose my son either. I shocked a lot of people, but that’s their problem.