I've been with Bluebird Tattoo for over three years now. Going in ignorant, I started from a position of serving and soaking and have, over time, worked my way up. From the beginning, the guys have been nothing but kind... even loving. Somehow, within our world of tattooing, they created an environment of encouragement, achievement, and continual growth. Every man with his own take, we were able to bounce ideas and experiences around.

I'm trying to say that I was able to flourish with their help and at my own pace. And for that I'm forever grateful.

Also during the process, I've experienced more life changes than I could have imagined. At the beginning, my little man (Xavier) was born premature. His birth and the stress of life in the NICU-along with the weight of unimaginable hospital bills-prompted my departure from the world of freelancing. I loved the freedom, but my situation wouldn't allow me to push through the cloud of inconsistency.

Xavier found a way through his own turmoil though. He fought extraordinarily. Hell, he always does. He came out little but strong. And even the little was short lived! He was chubby and thriving in no time.

Then came a resurgence of life. At least an effort to find some sense of normalcy. And we did so... kind of. But it also shook some of us up deeper than we knew. Then came even more. Over the past couple of years we faced a horrible death in the family, pain, more sickness (Xavier faced a rare form of Salmonella), drain, and ultimately the end of my marriage.

I type this with tears streaming down my cheeks, and it makes me feel small. Small because my best laid plans don't really matter. Because the love between two will dance and swing and find itself an irregular beat. So how am I to suggest a pattern more stable when wonder lives in such displacement?

But the love between parent and child is different: it rivals that of any story told or romance known. For it is unconditional and knows no bounds. Where there was irregularity, there is correlation. When once I found security in actions and knowing, I now stand confident in an unfaltering unit: father and son.

On that note... I post this to say I'm changing everything.

My son needs me, so I'm dropping what is comfortable and will be taking more time with and for him. I'll still be tattooing, but will do so on a different routine and with more ability to select the works I'll undertake. I'm certain it'll effect my schedule and may make me less available for current clients, but it has to happen.

It's a little daunting, but I look forward to the change.

I'll now be tattooing at Insight Studios in Chicago every other week and I'll also be available for my East Coast friends as a monthly guest artist at the amazing Baltimore Tattoo Museum.