A Tribute in Orange - Part II

- As posted by Tara McQuaid Cullen -
Today I got my first tattoo....to remember a wonderful friend and what he meant to me.

It will be two years this August that we lost John Henry (that's just so hard to believe). Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. There has been countless times when I wish I could just text or call him, because there is nothing you couldn't share with Henry. There is shit that if I dished to him today, he'd be shocked. For 3 seconds. Then laugh his ass off, put a drink in my hand and tell me how great I am. I miss him.

Actually, this tattoo is somewhat selfish. Yes, it is for a wonderful friend who we all miss. But more importantly, it is a reminder to myself.

The butterfly symbolizes gliding through this life with grace and ease and with that positive, carefree attitude John Henry seemed to easily call upon. It is a reminder that life is short. That with growth and hardships come confidence. With confidence, strength. And altho butterflies seem frail, they fly fearlessly and beautifully thru their short life.

The orange is well...the orange...lol.. to me it's a reminder of Henry's overwhelming passionate spirit. He embodied qualities that I used to just wish for. He still inspires me to love better and live better. To celebrate myself (there's only one), and to celebrate others. To live uncensored and with great passion. To embrace differences, welcome challenges, and not be afraid of change. To find a dream, chase a dream, and make it happen. To not worry about carrying no cash (lol). To live for this moment. To find a way. To feel out loud. To say yes. To smile at strangers. To name it, and do it. To jump. To create. To go big or go home. To have fun. To not be afraid to tell your friends & family I love you. Or I love you more.

If it wasn't for Henry, I wouldn't know myself as well. He used to see me better than I saw myself. He saw everyone he knew in the best possible light. There were no faults or judgements, no expectations, he just loved you unabashedly, and you couldn't help but to love him.

I realized with John Henry it's not about being like him, it's about applying his attitude when embracing yourself and others. So this little orange butterfly is my constant reminder to just be the best possible me and see the best around me. To remember the orange in him, bring out the orange in me, and find the orange in others....And if that means having a little extra fun along the way, that's okay.... John Henry would totally approve :)

A Tribute in Orange - Part I

The message below was sent from David Grabarkewitz on May 2, 2009:

Dear friends -- While vacationing in Hawaii last month on the Big Island, where JH and I spent so much time, I ran across two marvelous friends, Scott and David, that we had met on our first trip there.

We had a great time re-acquainting ourselves, and, on recommendation of our friend, Kimo, native to the islands, and his partner Barcus, we held a traditional Hawaiian ceremony for John Henry on my last day there: Kimo and Barcus created Leis for all of us, and we stood at a point overlooking the Pacific as Kimo chanted, then made an offering to the sea in memory of him.

If you get to Kalani, or Kehena Beach in Hawaii, you can think of him, as I will.

Cheers,

David