Mike Mittman

e-mail: guyute_yem@hotmail.com
website: http://www.livejournal.com/users/whitebrowgigs
AIM: Whitebrowgigs

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I got it in late August of 2001, i believe it was friday, the 17th. First off: why did i get it? I have always adored the tune, "With Every Light" off the "Machina" album. The period of my life at this point in time was rather rough: i was in Columbus, OH, attending school; i was away from my friends, my family and my love had proven it was false. I began to believe that I had to live for other people, that i had to do what THEY expected me to do, from "friends" to family to former loves. In "With Every Light", Billy sings, at least to me, about a new beginning and a new belief in life. The lyrics that go, "we're taking over, we're taking over, no more war and no more soldiers" just gave me the impression that things were calm in the world again, that life could go on; that the light could blind out the darkness and bring hope and peace. However, my favorite lyric set in the song still remains: "Look Ma, the sun is shining on me, taking my time to do as i please." Those lyrics really stuck with me and ringed in my head during my constant struggle to prove my worth and fulfill everybody elses needs. In time, with much patience and much to the distaste of some folks i realized: I had no reason to do what others expected of me; i didn't have to meet anybody's expectations, except my own. I was here to do what i knew i had to do. I realized that this was my life, my existence and i was going to do what I felt had to be done. To me, the picture of the Angel in the "Machina" booklet symbolizes the light that Billy sings about: the light that brings with it truth, hope, life, and healing; this was a great epiphany for myself. i decided I wanted this moment, this realization to stay with me and that's when the idea of getting the tattoo came into mind. My roommate at the time was going back home to Muncie, IN to get a tattoo on his arm and I said i was going with him to get one as well. I ripped the page out of the "Machina" book that had the angel on it and sent it to the artist, who expanded on it for me. I was a bit nervous on the ride there as this was my first tat and i had heard every horror story about how painful it was, etc. When we got there, i met the artist, Emmet, showed me his design, which he basically gave the Angel a full body, with a flowing gown and feet. I took off my shirt and sat on an old home gym set, wrapping my arms around it as he traced the design on my back. I didn't really feel too much pain until he went over one of my few moles on my back or until he would go over my SPINE. I winced a few times, but in time, i grew rather numb and even dozed off a few times. Four hours later, he was done and i had her on my back, gracing me with her prescence. He put some paper over her and gave me the "how to" on how to take care of her for the first month and i did so, even going so far as to nearly pop my arm out of socket so I could put the lotion on to make sure my tat healed properly. I paid him (he was very gracious as he knew my roomie) and i gave him a mondo tip, even larger than the bill itself. He shook my hand and handed back my "Machina" page (which i'm lookin at now). So, here we are, going on four years later and I still love the Angel that graces my back, always reminding me that i'm here for a greater purpose than i'll probably ever understand, but knowing its my job to "do as i please" as I only have one shot at this existence.

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