Has a red bird ever flown across your path?

My Grandmother, my dad’s mother, used to say that seeing a red bird was good luck.

She passed away when I was very young so I don’t have too many memories of her, but from what I do remember and the stories I’ve heard we had a lot in common. MamMaw loved the Golden Girls, shopping, and baking.  She didn’t take a lot of crap and had a sense of humor that could make people blush.  I have always sensed a sort of kindred spirit in her…

…and every time I’ve had something big going on in my life – a new job, taking the GMAT, a death – a red bird has flown across my path.

The words in my tattoo read: “All I ask of livin’ is to have no chains on me.”

It is a line from a Blood, Sweat & Tears song called “And When I Die.”  If you haven’t heard of this band, it’s a  jazz-rock group that was popular in the late 60s/early 70s – lots of horns/brass and a good beat.  It was one my dad’s favorite bands.

One of the memories of my dad that sticks out in my mind the most was when we were sitting in the car after a softball game and this song came on.  He turned up the stereo wayyyy too loud and we sat in the car and jammed out.

It sounds small, but it was such a fun, happy moment.  Not a care in the world.  Just me and my dad with some good classic rock. 

July 6th will be 4 years since he passed away.

I’m positive he would hate the fact that I have a fairly large tattoo on my back. 🙂  I do think he would appreciate the significance.  Whenever I see a red bird, I think of my grandmother and my dad.  It’s a reminder to me that they are somewhere out there watching my back and hopefully sending a little extra luck my way when things are tough.

The song lyrics with the red bird remind me that the sky is the limit.  All I ask of life is to let me keep living it so I can see how high I can go.  My dad approached life like that – he believed that anything is possible, as long as you believe in yourself.  He was an incredibly intelligent man.  He owned his own business, built our family’s house, and excelled at everything he attempted.  I never heard him complain about getting a bad hand dealt.  He may have hit some hard times, but he would roll up his sleeves and fight his way through whatever roadblock presented itself.

Maybe it’s hokey, but this tattoo reminds me of the example he set.  It reminds me that with hard work, confidence, and a little luck, anything is possible.

Thanks to my best friend’s husband, Greg, for designing my tattoo – it makes it that much more special.  And, of course, a huge thanks to Danielle at Only You Tattoo in Atlanta for doing such an incredible job.

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PSA – put a towel down before you sleep on a new tattoo:

Do you ever feel like you’ve been given a little extra luck just when you needed it most?

Is there a song you associate with one of your parents/grandparents?