Shit talking and punk rock fill the air. I tell Matt that I m making myself wait until February to start tattooing my arms because I know a chain reaction of ink will pursue from there. You ll start filling them in quick, that s true. Matt speaks from experience, his arms, neck, hands, legs and chest are covered. I look down at the spilled blood and solid ink, the pain awakening every molecule of my body, and realize that life has not changed that much.
Every day is still a push and shove through life with nothing to do but live.
I chuckle with the happiness and relief this knowledge brings me and smile as my minds eye rises above the clutter and noise of the tattoo shop, above the blocks of drug hustlers, theives and junkies, above the streets filled with cars, trucks, busses and mayhem, above it all.