Tiger

When I was in my late teens, I decided to get my first tattoo. I refused to get the overly feminine flowery things that others girls had. But I was also not a skull and crossbones kind of girl. So after much thought I ended up with a tiger on my calf. At the time I was going to college for conservation biology and wanted it as a reminder of what could be lost. As I grew older, the meaning of the tattoo changed for me. I love Japanese culture. Although the tiger I have is not in the traditional Japanese style, I have embraced the meaning of the tattoo. The tiger tattoo means not only strength but wards off evil spirits and disease and is said to bring a long life to those who have it. So unbeknownst to me, the tiger has kept me safe from all the things that go bump in the night.