There it is. I am so happy with the final outcome. Mad props to Matt Terry of FU's Custom Tattoo in Charlotte, NC who came up with the final design and gave me the tattoo. Jenna and I will be back!
Now for a description of the experience at the tattoo shop... I won't lie it hurt a lot more than I expected. I thought I would fall asleep during the process but I was far from it. Within the first 10 minutes I started feeling faint but I am glad I was honest with myself, Matt, and Jenna as the process would have been a lot harder had I passed out. After a short break I was good to go for the rest of the tattoo but the pain continued. The only way I can describe it is it felt like he was taking an Exacto knife to the skin on my back. Regardless of the pain, the experience was unforgettable. The people, music, and entire experience at the shop were truely brilliant.
This tattoo is the perfect tribute to a great friend and the final image is a great reflection of an image that I regularly use when quieting my mind, just as the words Aaron had told me many years ago... "Hang in there". Those 3 words served the purpose then and this image does now.
