My chair of refuge and the last henna tattoo

This is where I spend a lot of my time. It's my father's old Lazy Bum chair. His sister's wool blanket is tossed across the back. His mother's blanket is on the seat and the pillow she gave to me and borrowed back when she was dying of cancer is on the arm. The little stool her husband made is on the left and the table my brother made is on the right. My mother's mother's rug is on floor and her sister's lamp is behind my brother's table. There are many other items in this photo that were made or owned by my relatives, and all of them make me feel better as I spend so many hours in this chair.

Joline came over this morning to do the last henna tattoo. I told her my hair's starting to grow back, and I didn't want to shave my head as I had in the past for other tattoos. She was okay with this.

She had done some drawings and we looked at them before she started. She wanted to do a butterfly. One of the aspects of asking my friends to do tattoos that I've liked is seeing what designs they come up with.

She's the only artist to do two tattoos. She enjoyed herself so much the first time that she asked for a return engagement.

 

Carol Milne came by to watch and hold Joline's sketch book open for reference.

As Joline worked we chatted quite a bit about friends, odd artists, Northwest Designer Craftsmen, degrees of Jewishness, travel, dating, etc. It was  gentle, rolling conversation interspersed with laughter. Carol has a lovely and rollicking laugh.

Hair!!!

Joline asked if I wanted earrings. "Yup", I said.

I was sad to say goodbye to them. The last henna tattoo is a demarcation in my cancer treatment. I've greatly enjoyed these tattoos and have been touched that my artist friends would be willing to oblige my request to help me cope with being bald.

I am grateful.