Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/235251
An office manager at American Family Insurance in New Glarus, Bigler visited Art and Soul where she got a tattoo of an iris on the inside of her left arm. Scrawled across the iris is her son's name: Trevor. It's Bigler's first and only tattoo. "I'm just glad the tattoo is there every day for me to see," she said. "I would still think about him, even if I didn't have it. But when other people see it and ask about it, I get to talk about my son." Years ago I thought I'd let a little ink dragonfly land on my shoulder, reminding me of my mom who died in 2001. Then I pondered an anchor near my foot, showcasing my love for lakes and my grounded, anchored childhood. But I wonder, does a professional 40-something walk around in a pencil skirt with an anchor on her ankle? According to Laura Kaiser, "Being in the banking industry, I have to keep my tattoos pretty much covered all the time at work," but when they do peek out, she's only received compliments. Kaiser, 38, got her first tattoo when she was 21 and has been getting her arm and torso inked at Capitol City Tattoo ever since: a lotus flower, koi fish, huge butterfly, cherry blossoms, Asian characters and a heart with "I love my sister" in French. Kaiser's favorite tattoo is on her left arm—a mother and child symbol in honor of her 10-year-old son. 56 brava magazine | JANUARY 2014 "I love it because you can tell your story on your skin," she said. Her ink has never prevented her from getting or keeping a job, and she adds that you shouldn't judge a woman with tattoos—ladies of all stripes are getting them. Nielsen from Steve's agrees: "I'd say we see everyone from queens to criminals." Dara Kobylarz, an attorney working for the state pension system, concurs that her tattoo of the Sanskrit symbol for Om on the back of her neck has not been a problem in her career, but she admitted she was reluctant to get it for other reasons: "I never wanted a tattoo. I'm Jewish, and it's frowned upon—you shouldn't desecrate your body." But after a tough year of family illnesses, surgery and other personal battles, Kobylarz realized that it was her yoga practice that brought her through that traumatic time. "Yoga changed my life, and the Om tattoo was a bookend for my year of drama."