The life and mind of Adeline Ong

For years now after getting my first tattoo, I have been searching for another tattoo design to satisfy my crazy passion for storytelling and being ever so sui generis. Does not make sense to you?

Other than having a meaning, I want my tattoos to be conversational pieces,

to be a piece to mark a transitory period of my life,

have an inter cultural historical meaning .

Currently, I am looking at getting a full back Japanese Cherry Blossom piece starting from the base of my spine.

This will be my only colour tattoo.

When I told V about it, his reaction was, “Expensive wei…”

Typical V, but he is only getting his first tattoo after he gets his next cord. He has already gotten his design down.

As for mine, the design is still in its conception point. I am torn between having a full tree, that is positioned on the middle of my back or just have a branch that begins at the base and the branches up towards my left shoulder blade.

I asked my mom for her opinion.

 She was horrified, “Why would you want something so big on your body?”

I just laughed. The design is not out yet, for all I know, it’ll probably be only a handful of Cherry Blossoms. Like my first, I’ll probably be designing the tattoo myself. Or at least get a draft design for the artist to work with. We’ll see. It took me 6 months to finally get my first tattoo design down and that piece was simple. God knows how these Cherry Blossoms will look like.

You might be wondering why I am choosing Cherry Blossoms since they are not exactly my favourite flowers.

In case you are wondering, I love Red Poppies.

In typical Otaku fashion, the Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) has played a very important part in Japanese culture. Almost every anime that I loved has a Sakura scene as well as theme songs related to Sakura. But more importantly, Sakura blooms in Spring, the time when life begins. Culturally, the flower is used to symbolize the transience of life (how Zen and Buddhist). Falling blossoms are representative of snow (the season that I closely compare myself to)

And according to legend they are a metaphor for a warrior killed early in life.

Morbid but very me.

And being Chinese, one cannot forget the image of the Cherry Blossom during the Lunar New Year. It represents the symbol of feminine dominance, female beauty and sexuality.

Yes, I am proud to be a woman though it can be hard at times.

Some people will applaud the fact that I am finally getting a feminine and pretty tattoo as compared to my first tattoo.

Since I’m getting the second one done, I’ll ask them to re-ink the first.

Initially, I had wanted my second tattoo to be done traditionally in Borneo. Most of my friends think I am either a pain junkie or have just lost my marbles.

I actually do not mind the pain because it is something I am ready to put up with. What I am actually worried about is the infection that might get. For me, if I am going to have another tattoo, it might as well be done traditionally.

But it looks like that will be my third piece then. And I have not decided on the design for that one either.

Perhaps I will come up with some drafts and you can give me feedback on them. Ta!

For years, there has been talk about me hauling my butt over to the UK to see my sibs. There were tons of excuses of not going. Mainly work related but I finally am tired of hearing myself whine as people I love are actually enjoying themselves halfway round the world. Well, I have finally booked the tickets for this summer. All I need to do now is save up until then to shop in London town… I actually would like to squeeze in a workshop and probably a few shows.

No, wait… I actually need to submit my leave tomorrow. But then it’ll be all good.

I can’t believe it. As the page popped up to confirm my payments, it finally sank in. I’ll be going to London.

Deep breaths…

Sometimes in our life, there is a void, a hole, that indescribable emptiness,

Something that makes you feel worthless and incomplete.

The feeling is uncomfortable, uneasy, and restless;

You can’t sit still, you feel like running but there is nowhere to go.

At night, you toss and turn in your bed despite laying there for the past hour,

You try to find the answer, that cure, that magic elixir, the perfect solution,

That will help to wash away, to purify, to take away, to give you an escape,

And yet the harder you search, the more it eludes you,

Perhaps when problems like these arise, the only answer is to let time take its course.

But as all of you know that time can be our cruelest teacher and yet the kindest one;

Because it does give us the best lessons in life,

They may not appear right in front of us or when we need it,

Funny how it will only rear its head when we least expect it,

Perhaps a mundane Thursday or when you are stuck in the daily rush hour traffic to work,

As I write this, I am feeling all these feelings, some I cannot explain, others I could rationalize,

Someone wise told me that we are always in control of our feelings;

If we claim that we cannot and do not have the power to do so,

It’s because we are addicted to the sense of security the negative emotions allow us to have,

Therefore, now I think the only thing I can do is to sit still, stay as neutral as possible,

And let the tide come in slowly as it washes the shore clean of the debris of yesterday.