My Dad would have been 72 yesterday.   He’s buried on the other side of town and I don’t get there much to visit his grave.  Not that doing that sort of thing is all my style anyhow.  I wanted something to have around to remember his by and I decided to get his favorite fishing lure put on my body as that reminder.

In 1970 Dad had a kidney transplant. He had been born with only one and when it failed his mother donated one of hers to him. I was born two years later.

Growing up, that scar on his side was something I always noticed as child.

Because of that I picked my left side, right where that scar was at to place my new ink.

I chose a Rapala because it was his, and now my, favorite lure to pull from a tackle box when it’s time to catch bass.  That was something he and I spent hours of summer nights doing for as long as I can remember.  I made sure to pass the tradition on and both my kids caught their first fish with black and white Rapalas.

It took CJ from Alligator Ink about an hour to do the job and it turned out great.

I did learn that it’s pretty had to photograph yourself getting inked in this spot.

Happy Birthday, Dad!