my body is my canvas
Hello again. This is Susan from myketaminestory.com. I have been dying to share this story since I decided to develop this website. It was back in September of 2016, well I had been thinking about it months before I approached my family, I asked my husband, son, and his girlfriend to participate in the semicolon movement also known as Project Semicolon. They loved the idea. They all agreed to get semicolon tattoos to support suicide prevention and mental health. My family have experienced decades of my treatment resistant depression, suicide attempts, and hospitalizations. My son’s girlfriend seriously enter his life in the middle of my last major downfall and has unfortunately witness her share of my illness. I was so honored that she agreed to get a semicolon as her first tattoo. That is big. It touched my heart. The fact that none of them hesitated to permanently ink their skins to help raise awareness really made me feel loved and heard. They wanted to support my past and my continuing recovery. That is priceless.
It took a bit of juggling of schedules but in November 2016 we headed to Exposed Temptations Tattoo in Manassas, Virginia to get our tattoos. I contacted Vanis Orr prior to our visit to discuss our tattoos, set up an appointment, and confirmed that we could all come in to see him together. I sent Vanis emails full of images and ideas. We spoke more in depth at the shop. Vanis really listened and designed art we were all so pleased with. We gave him the challenge of having a family in his parlor. He handled himself so professionally. Vanis actively listened as we discussed the meaning behind our tattoos. I highly recommend Vanis Orr. If you are interested in getting a tattoo and happen to be in Manassas, Virginia head over and check out the shop and artists.
During the weeks leading up to our appointment we were texting ideas to each other regularly. My husband sent me a text suggesting I might incorporated the Ketamine symbol into my tattoo. I absolutely loved the idea. It was perfect. I decided what better way to make a statement for Ketamine and Project Semicolon. I was so excited. I already knew I wanted to use a heartbeat with a semicolon. I told Vanis my idea and he brought the Ketamine and Heartbeat semicolon together wonderfully. I wanted the heartbeat on an EKG reading. My goal was to show life and then flat line to represent depression. I added the semicolon
and wanted the Ketamine above the semicolon to show that it was Ketamine that started up my life again. I had to show that with the beat beginning after the semicolon. Vanis nailed my ideas.
I think Brittany, my son’s girlfriend, found her design the most difficult to decide on. I was not surprised. It was her first tattoo after all. She decided to go with an elephant and Vanis did an amazing job implementing the semicolon into his trunk. Brittany named her elephant, Henry. The experience couldn’t have been too bad because she has informed us that she is ready to sign up for another tattoo.
The guys went with a simple design, but the statement speaks volumes in support of suicide prevention. They both choose to honor me by using my favorite color, purple, for the ink. 
It is difficult to see in the photos I am posting and I plan to update later with more professional appearing images. These pictures were taken the day of our tattoos from our phones.
I hope that this post and images inspires more people to go out and support the cause and bring awareness to this critical topic; life.
