It's a Wonderful Tattoo

For Christmas, my wife, Jenn, told me I could get another tattoo, my second. I have wanted another one for years. My first one was a "reset button," designed to look the the "fire" button on the old Atari 2600 joysticks. I got that one in 2003 or 2004 after my divorce to remind me that I am in charge of my life and my future, not my practice wife/mother of my first child.

I have wanted a second tattoo for years, and have kicked around the idea of a Wonderful Life-themed tattoo for a while. I thought about the drawing of George lassoing the moon, but among other reasons, I decided not to do that, because that seemed to be the go-to design. I wanted something unique. And I wanted to incorporate my children in some way. So I went back to the drawing board. 

The book where I found my inspiration

And THEN I looked through the book It's a Wonderful Life: The Illustrated Holiday Classic by Paul Ruditis and illustrated by Sarah Conradsen, which I received as a Christmas gift from my parents. In it, I found two gorgeous illustrations of George Bailey praying on the bridge. I started playing with those ideas .... not suicide, but of praying and my children, and how would I incorporate them. And then I thought of the role bells play in the film.

I also wanted to incorporate my wife in the design, but I didn't want to include her name, because tattooing your wife's name on your body guarantees a divorce. That's just bad juju. Not gonna' do it. Some people suggested using her initials and putting "XXX Bridgeworks"  (where XXX are her initials) on the bridge as a way to include her. But then I realized her birth flower was holly. So that was easy.

But since I wear glasses and George Bailey doesn't, I had my tattoo artist bury the face in his hands instead of showing the face. That way, it is unclear if it is me or George Bailey praying. I also added a square and compasses lapel pin to represent my involvement in the Masonic fraternity.

So, you can look at this tattoo as simply a scene from the film inspired by a book made for children, or you can look at it as symbolic of me, praying over my children, represented by the bells, bridging my past to their future.

Below is the process of the tattoo. It was completed in two sessions. Session 1 was Feb. 5, 2021, which was the anniversary of my parents' wedding, and my grandfather's death (neither of which happened this year). Session 2 happened June 1. I might need to get the white touched up at some point, but that will be after swim season is over.

Last moment for bare arm

End of Day 1 progress Feb 5, 2021

Final tattoo, completed June 1, 2021

Target Village - Boys Sledding

Near the beginning of It's a Wonderful Life, a young George, Harry, Sam and Marty go sledding near the river and near Potter's house. This event plays an important role in George's fate. Here, three of those boys sled down the hill...two of them without sleds or shovels.

Where did they learn that?

Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby (pre-drama) both hosted a show called "Kids Say the Darndest Things."

It's so true, and my kids are no exception. Below are some crazy things my kids have said since 2010. This is by far not a complete list, but these are some of the things that got my attention at a time where I could either write it down here or share it on social media and recreate it here.

For as much of a challenge as raising two boys can be sometimes...especially when one of them isn't around as much as I wish he could be, what you are about to read below helps keep the laughter alive in our home. Its effect on me is similar to George Bailey reuniting with his family at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. I hope these make you smile, as well.

June 17, 2010: 
The (then) 20-month-old: (Climbing up on his high chair) I eat.
Me: Are you hungry?
The (then) 20-month-old: Horny!

December 1, 2012:
The (then) 4-year-old: When mommy grows up, she will be the princess. When I grow up, I will be the princess's Iron Man. When you grow up, you can be the princess's prince.
Me: What about your brother? What will he be when he grows up?
The (then) 4-year-old: Um....He'll be Bob.

December 3, 2012:
The (then) 4-year-old: Mom, count to Spanish. I got to uno.

July 8, 2013: (While fishing)
The (then) 4-year-old: "We're fishing 'cuz we need fish sticks."

July 8, 2013:
The (then) 4-year-old: (After his 9-year-old brother explains triple-a baseball and the difference between major league and minor league baseball) "Ugh. You make me tired."

December 15, 2013:
The (then) 5-year-old: (Sung in musical mash-up style) "Thumpety-thump-thump; It's what the fox say!"

December 23, 2013:
The (then) 5-year-old: My wiener hurts.
Me: It does?
The (then) 5-year-old: Yeah. It hurts when I pee. It's called Pee-Hurt-Itis.

March 16, 2014:
The (then) 5-year-old: What is a jukebox?
My wife: It plays music.
The (then) 5-year-old: I don't like the juice box.

March 16, 2014:
The (then) 5-year-old: My leg hurts. Can you kiss my leg pit?

June 1, 2014:
The (then) 5-year-old: "Blue jays and cardinals fight with their peckers."

June 3, 2014:
The (then) 5-year-old: "This chicken nugget tastes good with the stuff (breading) off of it. It tastes like chicken peeled."

June 10, 2014: (While driving past a cemetery)
The (then) 5-year-old: "There's the place we go to die."
Me: "Well, not exactly. You've already died when they bury you there."
The (then) 5-year-old: "Right. Mom....I'm going to be old like my dad before I die."

Fall 2014:
(while driving past his optometrist's office):
The 6-year-old: There's my eye dentist!

March 7, 2015:
The 6-year-old: "Why are you dropping me off at Uncle Ryan's?"
My Wife: "Because I have to go to work because somebody died" (she works in hospice).
The 6-year-old: "You just let let people die? I do NOT want a mom who just lets people die."

March 11, 2015:

The 6-year-old: Is that a water biome?
Me: Yes. How do you know what a biome is?
The 6-year-old: Minecraft.

March 15, 2015:
The Wife: "I'm happy to see you playing with your Legos instead of playing on your iPad."
The 6-year-old: "Yeah. I'm doing it for old time's sake."

April 1, 2015 (wishing his brother was sitting in the back seat with him):

The 6-year-old: "I'm trying to beg him with my sad eyes."

April 1, 2015 (playing baseball)

The 6-year-old: "The ball hit my tummy bone."

April 1, 2015 (to his 11-year-old brother)

The 6-year-old: "Is your girlfriend hot? How hot is she? Is she burning?"

May 11, 2015 (as told by my wife):
The 6-year-old: "Mom, Mackenzie is my girlfriend."
The Wife: "Oh? And what does that mean exactly?"
The 6-year-old: "That she's my best friend that's a girl. ****Long pause****And we love each other"
.....
Five minutes later...
The 6-year-old: " Mom, I know what making love is."
The Wife: *crickets*
The 6-year-old: "Do you?"
The Wife: pause pause pause.... "Yes? Can you tell me what that means?"
The 6-year-old: "It's where you hug and kiss and two hearts connect, and that's how you make love".
The Wife: "Yep."
The 6-year-old: "MOM!!! That means when WE HUG AND KISS WE'RE MAKING LOVE!!! Isn't that awesome?!?"
The Wife: *silently thanking God that we're in the car and NOT in public where that can be taken out of context* "Yep."

December 2, 2015:
The 12-year-old: I'm not going to be in choir next year. I mean, what are you supposed to do with your face?! How do you smile AND sing at the same time? It doesn't make sense!

Larry Simms Memorial - June 17

Larry Simms, who portrayed George and Mary's oldest child, Pete in the classic film It's a Wonderful Life, died June 17, 2009, in Chonburi, Thailand, of emphysema. He was 74.

Source: http://goo.gl/ub4dQe

Simms, while well-known for this role, was probably better known for his role as Alexander 'Baby Dumpling' Bumstead in the Blondie series. He also portrayed Hopper Boy in another Capra/Stewart film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

He was born October 1, 1934, in Los Angeles, CA. His first film was as Joe Krozac Jr. as a baby, an uncredited role in the 1937 film, The Last Gangster. Most of his film career took place in the 1930s and 1940s, with a few more films in the 1950s.

According to Internet Movie Database, in a mini biography labeled as being written by "Brad Wimer, a close friend" of Simms, "After Larry's first retirement, he worked at Arabian-American Oil Company refinery in Saudi Arabia for Fluor Daniel. Later, Larry was tasked to spearhead the implementation of the Telecommunications infrastructure for a Shell refinery in Rayong, Thailand, also at the employ of Fluor Daniel. Then he remained in Thailand in true retirement."

Simms in his later years. (Source: http://goo.gl/ub4dQe)

Personally, I find it really interesting that Simms did in real life what his film father, George Bailey, dreamed of doing. He got to work in the oil fields. That makes me smile.

So on this day, the day of his death, we remember Larry Simms, who gave us many fine performances, including two films with Capra and Stewart, and most often as a child.

If Simms was alive today, he would be 80 years old.

(Source: Internet Movie Database)

Blogging From A to Z - T is for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Welcome to the It's A Wonderful Blog's Blogging From A to Z April (2015) Challenge. For this challenge, I will post every day in April (except for Sundays) about topics related to the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film, It's a Wonderful Life.

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star":

A traditional children's song became the equivalent of a text message or tweet in a classic 1940s film.

Vintage sheet music for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
Source: http://bit.ly/19epRxl

In It's a Wonderful Life, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is played on a xylophone ... or possibly a toy piano ... to indicate communication between angels.

The first time we hear the tune, Joseph pages Clarence. He sends a message in the form of the first seven notes of this childhood song.

Just before he is told to do that, Joseph's boss (see my entry on the letter B to learn the identity of the boss) tells him that Clarence has “got the faith of a child — simple.”

This is a hugely important factor in why "Twinkle Twinkle" was used as the tune to communicate between angels in the film.

In the Bible, Jesus addresses the innocence and faith of children:

“'Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.'" (Matthew 18:1-4)

Clarence has the faith of a child because we are all called to have the faith of a child. Jesus tells us that if we do so, we will have access to Heaven. And when we get there, we will be angels. According to this logic then, all angels have the faith of a child. So it is fitting that a children's lullaby would be their communication system - or at least represent communication between angels.

It is also an appropriate song because whenever a star or a solar system talks, it twinkles. We can hear them talk when they are together because they are together. The song is a paging system, or a text message. We hear it only when angels are not together. It is their method of long-distance communication, like a text message or a tweet.

To reinforce the idea of the childlike faith, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is sung to the same tune as the "ABC Song."

We hear the tune another time, during the Pottersville sequence. After George and Clarence are thrown out of Nick's Bar, George decides to search for answers by himself and leaves Clarence behind. Alone, Clarence begins to talk to Joseph. We can hear his words because he is on Earth - even if he is in an alternate version of our world. When Joseph replies, it comes to us as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Although hear the tune instead of the music, we know that Joseph asks Clarence if he drank anything in the bar, to which Clarence strongly responds, "No, I didn't have a drink!"

Blogging From A to Z - C is for Children, Challenge, Contentment

Welcome to the It's A Wonderful Blog's Blogging From A to Z April (2015) Challenge. For this challenge, I will post every day in April (except for Sundays) about topics related to the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film, It's a Wonderful Life.

Children:

Source: http://www.classicmoviehub.com/blog/
happy-fathers-day-a-celebration-of-classic-movie-fathers/

They inspire us, love us, challenge us, make us realize that we are worse at math today than we were 20 years ago. They make us realize we are getting old and turning into our parents.

But the unconditional love they give is amazing. Seeing their compassion and their excitement for life fills my bucket. They are our opportunities to teach them to avoid our mistakes while never, ever, ever admitting those mistakes. We always know "a friend" who has been in any given situation. ;)

Most days you want to die for your children. Some days you understand why some species eat their young. In It's a Wonderful Life, George asks Mary, "Why do we have to have all of these kids?" It takes a trip to Pottersville to remember that they are worth fighting for, no matter the cost, and no matter the...

Challenges:
Life is one challenge after another. Sometimes there are breakthroughs and times of success. But those successes don't come without a fight.

James 1:2-4 says, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

Without trouble, we don't grow. Without growth, we don't change. Without change, we would still be the same people we were when we were born. To quote my friend and the creator of the Evolution of Dance, Judson Laipply, "life is change."

To quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

In It's a Wonderful Life, George faced many challenges during his life, from not getting to travel or go to college, to being forced to stay at home running the Building and Loan while his brother and friends went to college and travelled the world. Those challenges were intended to show him the importance of...

Contentment:
The grass is not always greener. If it is, perhaps it is because it is fertilized with b.s.

While we shouldn't give up on our dreams, we all need to learn to be content with where we are at today. We must appreciate what we are provided and be grateful when opportunities arise. By all means, follow your dreams! But don't grouse around when you fail, looking for someone to blame or giving up on life.

George Bailey tried that. It earned him a trip to Pottersville and a shocking look at what would have happened if he hadn't been there. We matter. Worrying does not fix problems.

To quote Bobby McFerrin, "Don't worry, be happy."

   

What goes up must come down

Have you ever noticed that things can go TOO well and somebody ends up pissing in your Wheaties just so that everything stays in perspective?

Allow me to start from the beginning. I won tickets and meet-and-greet passes (back stage passes) from the local radio station, 104.7, WIOT, for the Bret Michaels concert at the Omni in Toledo Wednesday night.

I followed the directions and did what I was supposed to do (be at the sound board after the show to go back stage). I showed up at the sound board and nobody knew anything. Jenn and I spent an hour and a half walking around asking Omni employees, security, Bret's personal security, even Bret's personal body guard Big John if they knew anything about it. Nobody knew anything at all. And although there was a WIOT van parked in the lot, there wasn't an employee to be found ANYWHERE.

SO, I didn't get to do the meet and greet because apparently nobody communicates at the bar, in the security detail, or at the radio station. I didn't really care because I had met him Tuesday night at the Mud Hens game. But Jenn was really looking forward to it, and she didn't go on Tuesday.

So that's one hose-down, courtesy of WIOT. I sent them a respectful e-mail about it today, but they didn't bother to reply and explain themselves. Just more proof to support my opinion that they give away these "meet and greet passes" as a public relations prank and have no clue -- or no intention -- of following through. As long as they get their listeners to think they are cool.

It wasn't even a great concert. It was a bunch of drunk 20-something blondes girls trying to push their way to the front to try to make out with Bret. One gal even tried to push past me. I stood my ground and wouldn't let her past me. She said "I'm just trying to get to the stage." My response was "you and 2000 other jack-holes in this bar. You can go behind me if you want."

She called me a name. It starts with an F and rhymes with "trucker." I smiled. Maybe I am. But I'm not going to let a pretty face, skimpy shirt or short skirt convince me that someone can push their way in front of me. Solly Cholly.

Photos of the concert appear above. I also posted video on YouTube of songs that I either have never seen Bret perform or only seen him perform a couple of times. No, I don't have any of the WAY overplayed songs like "Every Rose" or "Something to Believe In." To find my videos, search YouTube for the username "iawlfan." That's me. I hope to add more video soon.

On the up-side, Evan "graduated" from pre-school tonight. That was fun, even though I think the entire idea is a little ridiculous. Evan looked handsome in his graduation cap. He was funny to watch as he kept smacking the "tassel" out of his face with his diploma. His mom cried. His grandmothers cried. I had fun. Photos of that also appear above.

And then I got home and got hosed again. My old boss called me around 9 p.m. to chat. I have caller ID and I answered the phone expecting a discussion that started "can you come back to work on Monday." Instead, I got "I decided to hire the old part-time guy who left for another newspaper instead. I thought he would be a better fit in the Perrysburg office. I didn't think anyone in the newsroom would fit up there." He said it had nothing to do with my ability, but everything to do with personality fit.

I asked him if he was legally allowed to hire someone from the outside instead of bringing back an employee who had been laid off. He said he didn't ask for a legal opinion but thought this was the better choice. I was nice. But I intend to ask for a legal opinion of my own.

I could say more, but I'll save it so I don't get in trouble in case this has a legal course of action available.

For now, I'm a proud papa who is pissed off and pissed on. In the meantime, I'm keeping my hopes up (but not so high they will be dashed again!) for the second interview.

What does it all mean?

I'm bored.

Not really. I was laid off from my job as a writer for the local newspaper on Feb. 17. I had been there for 10 1/2 years. It was my first job out of college, and my first career. I planned to stay there and retire.

I had an inkling that it may be coming, so I e-mailed myself all of my contact numbers and e-mail addresses about three weeks before the axe fell. I thought maybe I was safe, but there is no such thing, come to find out.

I'm not bitter. I'm mad, frustrated, scared and flat-out broke, but not bitter.

And tonight I feel optimistic. That usually isn't a word that is in a journalist's vocabulary. You can only report on so many murders and assaults and drug busts and lies before you get a little jaded and stop believing in and trusting people.

This layoff has been a blessing in that way. I have had the opportunity to get to know my five-month-old son, Kaleb and what all of his cries and funny sounds mean. I have been able to spend more time with my 5-year-old son, Evan, who recently earned his yellow belt with a stripe in karate. I have had a chance to argue, cry, be afraid, learn, establish a plan, and truly reconnect with my wife, Jenn.

I have fought with job and family services at both the local and state level. I have been frustrated by the incapacity of the people at the Child Support Enforcement Agency to have a heart or to allow me to look out for the son who lives with me. I have accused a credit card "counselor" of being a heartless, uncompassionate liar, and I have told more people than I can count that you can't squeeze blood from a stone.

At the same time, I have seen unbelievable acts of kindness, from unwavering multi-pronged support from my parents, a surprise hug from my brother (unheard of!), support from my in-laws, a surprise phone call from a former co-worker, constant e-mails from one co-worker and two colleagues, numerous visits from a close friend who has seen me deal with a lot of emotional baggage through the years, an unbelievable act of kindness from my Internet Service Provider, and hundreds of dollars in reduced fees from another creditor.

It is these acts of kindness that are helping to eliminate that jaded state of my soul and make me a better husband, father, son, and overall person.

So now, I take care of Kaleb 3 days a week. During the other two days, I run around madly trying to find a new job. Every other weekend and on Wednesday nights we add Evan to the fray. At all times, I am doing housework; searching for the Bigger, Better Job; and reading a variety of hints and tips on how to survive this crisis we currently are in.

Last night, Jenn and I watched the 1983 movie Mr. Mom. Jenn and I both noticed that it pretty much describes us to a T. I just haven't become addicted to the soaps...yet.

So this all leads me to reason this blog is titled "Stronger Now" and has the phrase "rise fall rise again" in the address.

Those are references to two songs that are appropriate to current events and previous events in my life. While the specifics of the songs do not always directly coincide with those events, the sentiments of the songs remain the same. I have included the lyrics here:

Broken Beat and Scarred
By Metallica
(Listen to it here)

You rise, you fall, you're down, then you rise again
What don't kill you make you more strong
You rise, you fall, youre down, then you rise again
What don't kill you make you more strong

Rise, fall, down, rise again
What don't kill you make you more strong
Rise, fall, down, rise again
What don't kill you make you more strong

Through black days
Through black nights
Through pitch black insights

Breaking your teeth on the hard life coming
Show your scars
Cutting your feet on the hard earth running
Show your scars
Breaking your life
Broken, beat and scarred
But we die hard

The dawn, the death, the fight to the final breath
What don't kill you make you more strong
The dawn, the death, the fight to the final breath
What don't kill you make you more strong

Dawn, death, fight, final breath
What don't kill you make you more strong
Dawn, death, fight, final breath
What don't kill you make you more strong

They scratched me
They scraped me
They cut and rape me

Breaking your teeth on the hard life coming
Show your scars
Cutting your feet on the hard earth running
Show your scars
Breaking your life
Broken, beat and scarred
But we die hard

Breaking your teeth on the hard life coming
Show your scars
Cutting your feet on the hard earth running
Show your scars
Braiding your soul in a hard luck story
Show your scars
Spilling your blood in a hot suns foray
Show your scars
Breaking your life
Broken, beat and scarred
We die hard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stronger Now
By Warrant
(Listen to it here)

I held you for a moment in my hands
The moment with you slipped away like sand
Through my fingers now
In front of me a choice I have to make
To carry on or simply fade away
I lose you either way
I'd like to say that it was easy, it was hard
To say goodbye, I thought that I would die
Chorus
Letting go of you, was so hard to
And I thought that it would kill me but I made
It through somehow, and I'm so much stronger now
I gave to you my love and my respect
But I could never make you love me back
I denied it so
I grew bitter watching you grow cold
My life became your prison, took it's toll
I decided
Like a bird that's trapped
Inside a gilded cage
It's right to set it free,
Hurts to watch it
Fly away
Letting go of you, was so hard to
And I thought that it would kill me but I made
It through somehow, and I¹m so much stronger now

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The themes of those two songs embody what life and this blog are all about: We rise, fall, get down, then we rise again. What doesn't kill us makes us more strong, and I AM stronger now. But I know I will fall again. We all have our days. It's how we come out on the other side that counts.

As Andy Dufresne said in the movie The Shawshank Redemption, "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."