Kanji Tattoos

Sorrow

Kanji is Chinese lettering which is very popular in the tattoo world. There are some funny stories about people getting Kanji done only to find out later that the artist had messed up work and the symbols say things other then what the collector had intended.

I have a couple Kanji on my leg as part of my leg piece. I have often wondered if what I meant to say with my Kanji is what it actually says. I had done research online to fine the symbols for "family" and "joy" but when my artist did them, I was afraid he had changed them a little bit too much to be artistic rather the factual.

This past weekend I attended the Woodstock-Ulster County Fine Arts Festival and met a delightful woman from Alfred, NY who would do any Kanji symbols you wanted and frame them. I had looked at the ones she had done but didn't see anything I wanted. We got to talking and I asked her if she could show me the word "sorrow". It's a word I want tattooed and have done some research but have seen several different versions. She took a piece of rice paper and prepared her brush and started putting ink to paper as she explained the process. I was thrilled to recognize the kanji she produced knowing that I was on the right track. She then added another symbol that turned it into "sorrowing". Then she showed me what "sad" looks like. Then she wrote my name, Cindi. I asked her how much she would sell me that piece of rice paper for and after thinking she handed it to me as a gift.

My name in Kanji - Cindi

I was so happy that I got brave enough to ask her if she could read the Kanji on my leg. I lifted my shorts and she looks and smiled and said, "oh, it's says family happiness". I was so happy! I don't have to worry about it anymore, what I wanted is what I got and is recognizable to people who really do read kanji!

This artist will be at a show in Lockport next weekend and then the following weekend at the huge show in Buffalo, the Allendale Art Show. I loved her work and will try to catch up with her so I can get some of her work. She does rice paper and watercolor of koi, cranes and other beautiful Chinese imagines.

Happy or Sad Ending?

I've been getting a little more reading done recently and it got me to thinking about what kind of ending I like to see in a book, which of course made me wonder what kind of ending my friends prefer.

One of my all time favorite books is "Gone With The Wind". Guess I related just a little too much with Scarlett (yes, we are both selfish bitches). What a wild romance Rhett and Scarlett had and what a strong and independent woman Scarlett could be when she set her mind to it. When a sequel came out a while ago, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it to see how the author would finish the story. The original story has Rhett walking out on Scarlett saying "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" leaving Scarlett in tears but finding a resolve to get Rhett back, that "tomorrow is another day" pledging to return to her home Tara to regain her strength. Boy, can I relate!

So the sequel comes along and has this wonderful happy ending with Rhett and Scarlett finding their way back to each other. I couldn't believe how disappointed I was with this happy ending! I felt like the power of GWTW had been stolen from me. So I guess I can say that I don't always want or like a happy ending.

On closer examination, I have decided what really sells me on a book are the characters, not the ending. If I can get totally involved with the characters, both their faults and strengths, then I guess it really doesn't matter how the book ends. Take for example one of my all time favorites, John Irving's "The World According to Garp". It has a very tragic ending and yet, there is a hope to it that I can't quite explain. You could say the same about "The Hotel New Hampshire".

I recently finished reading "Vanishing Acts" by Jody Picoult. I have enjoyed many of her books. This one had a great ending. Rather happy I guess, but also left many little loose ends. I loved the character development so when not everything was totally resolved, I realized how much I liked the ending because it allowed me to use my imagination to create more about the characters.

A friend of mine recently shared that when she reads a book, she always reads the last chapter long before she has read the rest of the book. She says she can then enjoy the story more as it develops because she already knows how the story ends so she can concentrate on how the book was written and develops. An interesting idea but not one I would do during my reading. I prefer to see if the ending has an unusual or interesting twist to it. Some books have truly surprised me. It might not have been the ending I hoped for, but still if it takes me by surprise, I'm still pleased.

Ah, I think I have another topic brewing, comparing books to their screenplays!

Happy Reading!

PS, I think I know what Widow with Dog's answer will be!