It’s taken a while to decide on a   tattoo   tribute to Max. I finally felt ready and went to my local tattoo parlor, Ink Ink, in Venice. I talked to a veteran artist named Stephanie, who turned the elements I wanted into the beautiful design you see above.

Stephanie was the best choice I could have made! She was kind, funny, insightful, and takes her work seriously.   It is her true calling. I felt so relaxed in her hands that I felt no pain, just a mild sort of friction..   I was delighted to hear her squeals of excitement over the vibrant colors.

We talked about all kind of shit, having discovered that we are the same age. We talked about all the times we’ve seen The Band. When I told her that   I used to have a huge crush on Rick Danko, she replied, “Who didn’t?!” It’s great to hang out with someone who shares your history and your culture.

The honeysuckles remind me of how Max used to suck the nectar out of the flowers outside our front door. When Charle was little, Max showed him hwo to do it. The morning  glories  remind me of putting them over our noses to see how long we could keep them there. Max called them “morning gorlies” and that’s how I still think of them

Some days go by like nothing is wrong. They make me wonder how a human being can  just  keep plodding along, through habit and conditoning. Other days are crushing, filed with the unbearable heartbreak and remorse.

But the tattoo is a comfort. I really love it. If you’re thinking of getting a tattoo, you can’t do better than Stephanie.