My Strawberry Tattoo and the Dreams it Sparks

Tattoos and their meanings…

I had an entirely different blog post to write today.

But my Strawberry Tattoo and a question from a dear blogging and Facebook friend, Dawnie, changed that; changed that in a wonderful way, bringing back precious memories of my grandparents and their farm in Michigan and how hard they worked to create a life, a living and dreams for not only them, but future generations… like me.

This new post began with a photograph…

I had just finished a short run in my new and completely awesome Runner’s World Challenge tech shirt, and Barry snapped a photo as I was crossing our back yard.  I posted the photo on Facebook.

A little while later, I noticed a comment/question from Dawnie…

It’s funny that sometimes I forget (not forgetting as much as not realizing) that I have a tattoo on my wrist.  It’s been there for so, so, so many years that it’s become part of who I am.  It’s like “forgetting” that I have fingers, toes, eyes and ears.  They’re always there, but sometimes need a bit of recognition.

But I was so happy that Dawnie saw my Strawberry Tattoo and asked about it, because that little symbol of my childhood means everything to me.  This is what I responded…

  • Sharon Couto Dawnie… 2 strawberries, memories of my Grandparents’ farm in Michigan. I have such beautiful memories of picking acres and acres of strawberries with my Grandma and sitting up on big stool in her roadside fruit & vegetable stand, selling her luscious gifts. These strawberries remind me of how hard my ancestors worked in this country, coming from Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Ireland… to make room for dreams and freedoms and challenges for people like me… xo

My Grandma would die very young, at age 60.  I am almost 60, so my strawberries have come to mean more to me than I ever imagined all those years ago as I sat watching a needle penetrating my wrist, at the bone…

My Grandma was born in Minnesota shortly after her parents arrived from Yugoslavia.  Her father, uncles and relatives were miners… and later the family headed toward Chicago for work, and that’s where my Dad was born.  My Grandma was widowed young (my grandfather died of a WW I injury), with two small boys to raise. Grandma married the man I would know as my Grandpa, and they settled in Michigan, on a farm.  They had two girls.

My Dad would tell me later how hard his Mom and Stepdad worked on that farm… before dawn ’til after dusk, every day. My Dad didn’t want to farm, and ran away from home at age 17 to join the Navy, nearly breaking his Mom’s heart… but what I remember of my Grandma are her gigantic hugs and beautiful, soft eyes.  Whenever we visited my Grandparents’ farm, I remember the great love my Grandma had for my Dad, even with that heartbreak.

And I remember her strawberries.  As big as my hand!  As red and as ripe and as luscious as my Grandma’s big heart.

I remember Grandma’s hands, quick and nimble and tough.  I remember the bonnets she gave me to wear to protect me from the sun.  I remember the barn, the gravel drive, the farmhouse, the big kitchen, the delicious food.  I remember the roadside fruit and vegetable stand, so cool under the shade trees, protecting it from the hot, summer Michigan sun.

I remember the strawberries.

My Strawberry Tattoo is two strawberries… my Grandma and me.

My Strawberries are hard work, great challenges, great dreams, great love, great freedoms… gifts from my great-grandparents who came from their homelands. For me.

My Strawberries are great lessons in reaching for the sun.  Sometimes tumbling back to earth.  But always reaching again.

As I set about my days, I often look at my Strawberry Tattoo and think of how far my ancestors have allowed me and my children to come.  To think.  To be.

To challenge myself, always with hard work at the core.

I am so happy I posted the photo of me in my serendipitously “strawberry” RED Runner’s World Challenge tech shirt today, because it made Dawnie curious about my Strawberry Tattoo.

And this makes me realize how very blessed I am, not only to do things like train for marathons, but to feel life’s great lessons every, single day.

 

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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5 Comments

  1. 6.22.12
    Dawn said:

    As ALWAYS, Sharon, you so envelope me in your stories. I’m so glad that I could spark something to invite you to write about your strawberries. As I was so close to my grandmother, I have often thought that were I to get a tattoo, it would have something to do with either my kids or my Nana. I can’t wait to see you and your strawberries!

  2. 6.23.12
    Rhonda said:

    AWESOME! Thanks for sharing your Strawberry tattoo and story!

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